{"id":8800,"date":"2026-01-16T05:40:47","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T05:40:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/?p=8800"},"modified":"2026-01-16T05:40:47","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T05:40:47","slug":"saudi-to-sudan-can-pakistan-expand-military-footprint-across-arab-world-military-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/?p=8800","title":{"rendered":"Saudi to Sudan: Can Pakistan expand military footprint across Arab world? | Military News"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Islamabad, Pakistan \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>By the standards of mega arms deals, the $1.5bn deal for Pakistan to reportedly sell jets and weapons to Sudan\u2019s military isn\u2019t huge.<\/p>\n

But the deal, which the Reuters news agency reported in early January was close to being finalised, could prove pivotal in the grinding war that has devoured Sudan for nearly three years between the country\u2019s armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).<\/p>\n

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Tens of thousands of people have been killed, millions have been displaced, and RSF troops have been accused of gang rapes \u2013 including of infants.<\/p>\n

The agreement under negotiation is only the latest in a series of moves by Pakistan in recent months that demonstrate the growing footprint of its military hardware and clout in the Arab world.<\/p>\n

Pakistan\u2019s military has, over the past few years, sold jets to multiple countries in Asia and Africa, and is in talks with others. But in the Middle East, its military role has traditionally, for the most part, involved training forces of Arab allies.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s now changing, with a spree of deals and negotiations that could turn Pakistan into a key security provider in some cases, and give it the ability to tip the balance in delicate conflicts in other instances.<\/p>\n

But analysts warn that divisions within the Arab world mean that Pakistan will need to tread carefully \u2013 or risk burning bridges with important partners.<\/p>\n

Saudi mutual defence<\/h2>\n

Anchoring this shift in Pakistan\u2019s military influence in the Arab world is the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) the country signed with Saudi Arabia last September, weeks after Israel bombed Qatar, setting off concerns across the region over whether the United States \u2013 historically the security provider for several Gulf states \u2013 could be trusted.<\/p>\n

Since then, Reuters reports that Saudi Arabia is among the countries that have also expressed interest in Pakistan\u2019s JF-17 Thunder fighter jet.<\/p>\n

Saudi Arabia, one of the world\u2019s wealthiest countries, operates a large and sophisticated air force equipped primarily with US and European aircraft and is in the process of ordering at least 48 US-manufactured F-35 jets, considered among the most advanced fighter aircraft currently available.<\/p>\n

But Adil Sultan, a former Pakistan Air Force air commodore, said Saudi Arabia may also be looking to diversify its defence suppliers amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.<\/p>\n

Pakistan, as a traditional ally, and with the mutual defence treaty in place, is a \u201creliable partner\u201d for Saudi Arabia. If Saudi Arabia buys JF-17s, it would \u201cenhance interoperability of both the air forces and would be mutually beneficial\u201d, he told Al Jazeera.<\/p>\n

Amir Husain, a Texas-based defence technology analyst, agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the SMDA between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, it makes a lot of sense for there to be a degree of commonality in systems,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSaudi Arabia is helping countries in the region, such as Libya, Somalia and Sudan, attain stability. The JF-17, and the Royal Saudi Air Force\u2019s [RSAF] familiarity with this platform, can achieve these regional stabilisation aims,\u201d Husain added.<\/p>\n

The JF-17 attraction<\/h2>\n

Apart from Saudi Arabia, Iraq too has shown interest in the JF-17, according to Pakistan\u2019s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) \u2013 the military\u2019s media arm.<\/p>\n

\"Interactive_JF17_Thunder_Jan8_2026\"
(Al Jazeera)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The JF-17 Thunder is a lightweight, all-weather, multirole fighter jointly produced by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China\u2019s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation.<\/p>\n

Production is split between the two countries, with 58 percent carried out in Pakistan and 42 percent in China. Pakistan produces the airframe, while China supplies the avionics.<\/p>\n

The latest version, the Block 3 variant, is classified as a 4.5-generation fighter. It features air-to-air and air-to-surface capabilities, advanced avionics, an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, electronic warfare systems and the ability to fire beyond-visual-range missiles.<\/p>\n

The AESA radar allows pilots to track multiple targets simultaneously and detect threats at longer distances, though the aircraft lacks the stealth characteristics of fifth-generation fighters.<\/p>\n

According to Pakistan Air Force (PAF) sources, full assembly takes place in Pakistan, and the production line at the Kamra facility can manufacture between 20 and 25 aircraft annually.<\/p>\n

Pakistan has marketed the JF-17 internationally for several years. Azerbaijan, Nigeria and Myanmar are currently among the aircraft\u2019s operators. But analysts say interest in the jet has intensified since the brief but intense military confrontation between Pakistan and India last May.<\/p>\n

During their four-day air conflict<\/a>, both launched missiles and drones at each other\u2019s territories, parts of Kashmir they administer, and military bases, after gunmen killed 26 civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir.<\/p>\n

On the first night of fighting, on May 7, Pakistan claimed it had shot down several Indian aircraft using Chinese-made J-10 Vigorous Dragon jets.<\/p>\n

The PAF deployed a 42-aircraft formation that included JF-17 Thunders and US-made F-16 Fighting Falcons against a 72-aircraft formation from the Indian Air Force. Indian officials initially denied any losses but later acknowledged that \u201csome\u201d planes<\/a> had been lost.<\/p>\n

With a relatively low-price tag of $25m to $30m per aircraft, the JF-17 has long been seen as an attractive option for air forces seeking a cost-effective solution \u2013 it is much cheaper than comparable aircraft produced by Western manufacturers.<\/p>\n

Analysts say that its recent combat exposure has added to its appeal, as battle-tested performance often carries greater weight than price alone.<\/p>\n

Al Jazeera sent queries to ISPR and the PAF seeking confirmation and details about the negotiations with different countries, but received no response.<\/p>\n

Beyond Saudi Arabia and Iraq, reports suggest that Sudan\u2019s upcoming deal with Pakistan also involves the JF-17. Pakistan, reports in December suggested, was also planning to sell these jets to Libyan rebels. Outside the Arab world, Bangladesh and Indonesia have also shown interest in the jets.<\/p>\n

Walking a tightrope<\/h2>\n

But Pakistan\u2019s expanding military clientele also means that the country will need to juggle competing interests, say analysts.<\/p>\n

In Sudan, its weapons and jets will go to the armed forces, which are also supported by Saudi Arabia. Sudan, meanwhile, has accused the United Arab Emirates of financing and arming the paramilitary RSF \u2013 a charge the UAE has repeatedly rejected.<\/p>\n

In Libya, Pakistan reportedly struck a $4bn deal in December with Khalifa Haftar, the rebel leader whose army controls a major chunk of the country\u2019s north.<\/p>\n

Sudan\u2019s army \u2013 which Pakistan\u2019s army is reportedly about to arm \u2013 has previously accused Haftar of helping the RSF. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been on opposing sides in Yemen in recent weeks, with Riyadh accusing Abu Dhabi of arming southern separatists. The UAE has denied those allegations.<\/p>\n

Against that backdrop, it will not be easy for Pakistan to sell the same weapons systems to opposing sides, Umer Karim, an associate fellow at the Riyadh-based King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, told Al Jazeera.<\/p>\n

Karim said that he also believed that the Pakistani jets that Saudi Arabia has reportedly shown interest in are also meant for the Sudanese military.<\/p>\n

But Pakistani platforms, and the JF-17 in particular, offer other benefits, even to Sudan\u2019s army and Libyan rebels, said Sultan, the former PAF officer. That the JF-17 is manufactured jointly with China gives it extra geopolitical heft, he pointed out.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese countries may buy fewer numbers [than bigger countries] as per their requirement, but Pakistan may be seen as a most reliable source to acquire aircraft due to strong support from China,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Unlike Western weapons systems, jets like the JF-17 are also appealing to Global South militaries because of their \u201crobustness, lower lifecycle cost, ease of maintenance, and rapid operationalisation\u201d, another retired PAF official, who requested anonymity, told Al Jazeera. This official was involved with the JF-17 programme while in service.<\/p>\n

\"A
A Pakistani Air Force JF-17 Thunder is on display at the Dubai Air Show, United Arab Emirates, on November 19, 2025 [Altaf Qadri\/AP Photo]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pakistan\u2019s weapons exports<\/h2>\n

The JF-17 is driving a much wider weapons export push from Pakistan, say analysts.<\/p>\n

A recent report by KTrade, a Karachi-based brokerage and research firm, said that Pakistan\u2019s defence exports include not only fighter jets but also tanks, drones, armoured vehicles, naval systems and small arms.<\/p>\n

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) says Pakistan remains one of the world\u2019s largest arms importers, with most of its imports coming from China, while exporting less than $50m worth of arms annually.<\/p>\n

However, data from Pakistan\u2019s central bank shows that arms and ammunition exports jumped massively in the 2022 to 2023 fiscal year, rising from $13m to more than $400m.<\/p>\n

While never officially acknowledged, the jump in figures is widely attributed to Pakistan supplying ammunition to Ukrainian forces fighting Russia since February 2022.<\/p>\n

The reports of potential JF-17 sales come as Pakistan seeks to stabilise its economy and rebuild diplomatic momentum. Islamabad has recently improved ties with the United States while reinforcing partnerships with China, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.<\/p>\n

Pakistan is currently in its 25th International Monetary Fund programme, a $7bn loan spread over 37 months, underscoring its need for foreign inflows.<\/p>\n

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif recently suggested that arms exports could ease that dependence. \u201cOur aircraft have been tested, and we are receiving so many orders that Pakistan may not need the International Monetary Fund in six months,\u201d he said in a television interview.<\/p>\n

KTrade estimated that existing and potential JF-17 deals, including a $1.5bn contract with Azerbaijan from 2024 and possible sales to Saudi Arabia, Libya and Sudan, could generate up to $13bn, boosting Pakistan\u2019s foreign reserves by as much as 82 percent.<\/p>\n

Karim, however, remains unconvinced, noting that previous efforts to market the jet did not lead to major contracts.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a bit strange that all of a sudden, and without that sort of intense official and institutional engagement, so many defence deals involving the JF-17 are being discussed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor now, one can say they\u2019re meant to project the narrative of the Pakistani defence industrial complex and its indigenous weapon systems coming of age and attracting customers everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sultan attributed the renewed interest to lessons drawn from last year\u2019s conflict with India, \u201cwhere Chinese-sourced weapon systems have proven their efficacy against the advanced Western aircraft\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"FILE
The JF-17 Thunder is currently in use by the air forces of Azerbaijan, Nigeria and Myanmar [File: Zohra Bensemra\/Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A multipolar arms market<\/h2>\n

Pakistan\u2019s discussions with potential weapons buyers are unfolding against a backdrop of intensifying competition between the United States and China, as many countries reassess defence procurement strategies in an increasingly polarised world.<\/p>\n

The US remains the world\u2019s largest arms exporter, accounting for 43 percent of global sales in 2024, according to SIPRI. China ranks fourth, with about a 6 percent share \u2013 nearly two-thirds of which goes to Pakistan.<\/p>\n

The retired PAF official who spoke on condition of anonymity said any JF-17 sale should be seen as strategic diversification, not geopolitical defiance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis reflects a pragmatic shift toward multipolar defence procurement, where performance, combat credibility, cost and sovereignty matter more than legacy alignments,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Husain, the defence technology analyst, agreed, saying Pakistan was not competing directly with US manufacturers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe JF-17 is a tremendous aircraft, and there is room in many fleets for both platforms,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Uzair Younus, partner at The Asia Group, a Washington, DC-based geopolitical consulting firm, concurred, adding that the diversification is largely driven by a recognition that \u201cWestern defence supply chains will be strained for the foreseeable future\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t see Washington, at least under [US President Donald] Trump, viewing these developments negatively,\u201d Younus said. Countries like Saudi Arabia are likely to procure cutting-edge supplies from the West, and access to platforms like the JF-17 helps them bolster their capacity to do the regional security work that America wants them to do,\u201d he told Al Jazeera.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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Islamabad, Pakistan \u2013\u00a0By the standards of mega arms deals, the $1.5bn deal for Pakistan to reportedly sell jets and weapons to Sudan\u2019s military isn\u2019t huge. But the deal, which the Reuters news agency reported in early January was close to being finalised, could prove pivotal in the grinding war that has devoured Sudan for nearly […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8801,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-asia-pacific"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8800"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8800\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}