5 hours ago
Last Updated:May 20, 2025, 10:46 IST
Top diplomatic sources confirm that China has offered Pakistan a 50 per cent discount on these fighter jets, along with easy payment options.
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif with Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Reuters/File)
China is fast-tracking the delivery of its fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, the J-35A, to its long-time strategic partner, Pakistan, as what top diplomatic sources in Beijing and Islamabad have called “reward" following the India-Pakistan conflict last week. Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif is in China. According to sources, Islamabad is expected to receive the first batch of 30 J-35A jets as early as August 2025. This decision underscores the urgency driving bilateral defence collaboration between the two nations.
Top diplomatic sources confirm that China has offered Pakistan a 50 per cent discount on these fighter jets, along with easy payment options. This move is seen as a reward for the Pakistan Air Force’s “performance against India". The initial agreement between the two countries outlined the delivery of the first 30 J-35A aircraft this year, highlighting the importance both nations place on strengthening their defence ties.
Reports from late 2024 first unveiled Pakistan’s plans to procure 40 J-35A fifth-generation stealth fighters, marking the first known export of such advanced military technology by China. The timing of this deal coincides with recent high-profile security visits to Islamabad and Beijing by Chinese and Pakistani officials. These meetings focused on expanding strategic military cooperation amid complex regional security dynamics, including Indian airpower modernisation.
Intelligence reports indicate that a cohort of Pakistan Air Force pilots has already been dispatched to the People’s Liberation Army Air Force headquarters in Beijing for operational conversion training on the J-35A platform. According to top diplomatic sources, this training serves as tangible proof of Pakistan’s progress toward acquiring fifth-generation airpower capabilities.
In addition to the fighter jet deal, Chinese authorities have decided to invest $25 billion in Pakistan’s civil and military infrastructures. This investment aims to further strengthen the ties between the two countries under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Phase-2 program. According to top diplomatic sources, Pakistani authorities have assured China of full security support and smoother access to Gwadar Port operations.
Overall, the deepening military and economic cooperation between China and Pakistan reflects their commitment to confronting regional security challenges together. This partnership, as confirmed by top diplomatic sources, is expected to have significant implications for the security dynamics in the region.
Location : First Published:News world China Boosts Pakistan's Arsenal: Beijing Fast-Tracks J-35A Fighter Jet Delivery, Signals Deepening Defence Ties
