Pakistan, which has long described its relationship with China as an “all-weather friendship,” is now being identified by American analysts as a critical gateway through which Beijing markets its weapons systems to the world. A new report by the US-based think tank Middle East Forum concludes that Pakistan has evolved beyond a mere defense partner of China and has become a broker facilitating Chinese arms sales to multiple countries, even as Islamabad’s own military grows increasingly dependent on Chinese equipment.
The report highlights a proposed defense agreement between Pakistan and the Libyan National Army, valued at over $4 billion, as the most significant illustration of this strategy. The deal reportedly includes 16 JF-17 Thunder fighter jets — developed jointly by China and Pakistan — along with training aircraft and additional military hardware. Analysts note that if the agreement is finalized, it could raise serious questions regarding compliance with the United Nations arms embargo on Libya.
Data cited in the report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows that more than 80 percent of Pakistan’s total arms imports between 2021 and 2024 originated from China, underscoring a dramatic shift in Islamabad’s defense procurement. While Pakistan retains a fleet of US-origin F-16 fighter jets and continues to receive intermittent American military assistance, the bulk of its recent acquisitions — including JF-17 jets, Chinese-made drones, and HQ-9 air defense systems — are now tied to Beijing.
The report further documents expanding defense engagement between Pakistan and countries including Iraq, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Sudan, and Ethiopia, with Chinese state media suggesting that JF-17 negotiations are underway with several of these nations. Talks with Saudi Arabia over potential JF-17 purchases have also been reported, though no final deal has been confirmed. Experts caution that the quality of Chinese defense equipment, its compatibility with existing US-supplied military systems, and negotiation terms remain significant obstacles to these prospective deals.
Analysts interviewed for the report argue that China is deliberately using Pakistan as a trusted intermediary rather than pursuing direct defense agreements with each country individually, allowing Beijing to penetrate markets where its influence was previously constrained. This arrangement, they say, enables China to simultaneously expand its domestic defense industry and deepen its political and military footprint across strategically important regions such as West Asia and Africa. The report concludes that, if this approach continues to succeed, it could meaningfully reshape both the global arms trade and the regional balance of power in the years ahead.