ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military spokesperson has said that the country is not part of any arms race with India, noting Islamabad’s defence initiatives are rooted in regional stability and deterrence.
In an interview with international publication Bloomberg, military spokesperson Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed that the Chinese weapons performed exceptionally well during the four-day conflict with India in May.
The spokesperson said that Pakistan remains open to acquiring advanced technologies from both eastern and western sources, while also strengthening its own indigenous capabilities.
“We are open to all sorts of technology,” he said. “Of course, lately, recent Chinese platforms they’ve demonstrated exceptionally well.”
During the May clash, Pakistan made its first significant use of advanced Chinese-made military systems, including J-10C fighter jets. Islamabad confirmed these jets were responsible for shooting down multiple Indian aircraft, including French-made Rafale jets.
Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, recently announced that the number of Indian aircraft downed had been revised to seven, up from the previously reported six.
This updated figure aligns with a comment made by US President Donald Trump, who stated during a speech in Virginia that “they just shot down seven planes,” though he did not clarify which side was responsible.
Chaudhry maintained that Pakistan did not lose any aircraft during the conflict. “Pakistan has never manipulated facts or figures,” he said.
In August, Pakistan announced the induction of the Chinese-made Z-10ME attack helicopter into its arsenal—an aircraft similar to those China uses along its border with India. More recently, President Asif Ali Zardari visited Chengdu, China, where he toured the facility responsible for producing the J-10 fighter jets.
He added Pakistan “is not in a military catch-up or an arms race” with India, noting that the nation’s defence initiatives are rooted in regional stability and deterrence rather than escalation.
DG ISPR also stressed that Pakistan “has never tried to play with or hide data and facts,” highlighting transparency as a cornerstone of the country’s defense communications.
