Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – In a dramatic shift in South Asia’s strategic landscape, new data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reveals that China has emerged as the dominant supplier of military hardware to Pakistan—accounting for a staggering 81% of Islamabad’s total arms imports between 2019 and 2023.
This deepening defence partnership comes after the United States drastically curtailed arms supplies to Pakistan following its withdrawal from Afghanistan, forcing cash-strapped Islamabad to lean heavily on Beijing for both economic and military support.
Chinese arms transfers have included state-of-the-art JF-17 fighter jets, SH-15 self-propelled howitzers, and the ongoing delivery of eight Type-041 Yuan-class submarines in a $5 billion deal. The strategic nexus extends beyond military hardware to infrastructure under the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which secures Beijing’s access to the Arabian Sea.
With Turkey emerging as a secondary supplier—providing 3.8% of arms—and actively backing Pakistan diplomatically, India’s security establishment is closely watching this shift. Chinese weaponry deployed near the Indian border, including the SH-15 artillery systems, adds another layer to the already volatile India-China-Pakistan equation.
“This surge in Chinese military exports to Pakistan is not just about arms—it’s about Beijing’s long-term strategic encirclement of India,” a senior Indian defence analyst told IANS. “It alters the regional balance.”
The move is expected to further strain already tense India-China relations, particularly after recent border standoffs and India’s Operation Sindoor.
As Pakistan ramps up military exercises like the recent ‘training launch’ of its Fatah-series ballistic missile, New Delhi’s next steps will be closely watched in Washington, Moscow—and especially in Beijing.
