THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
The continuous flow of military hardware into Pakistan a sign of dangerous times. Sudden arming, is driven by deep strategic investments, regional alliances, and mutual economic interests.
How Is Pakistan Paying for These Arms?
Pakistan’s domestic economy is severely constrained, making outright cash purchases impossible. Financial backing comes from strategic partnerships:
(1) Saudi Capital & Trilateral Deals.
Pakistan recently entered deep defense agreements with Saudi Arabia and Turkey (including the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement). Social Media calls it “Islamic Nato”.Bangladesh is showing interest to join.
Under these frameworks, Saudi Arabia provides financial infusions and funds hardware purchases, while Pakistan provides troops, air defense coverage, and operational personnel.
(2) Chinese Credit & Co-Production
China supplies military equipment using soft loans, flexible payment terms, and joint manufacturing programs (such as the JF-17 fighter jet). This allows Pakistan to build and maintain hardware locally at a fraction of standard commercial costs.
Does China Want to Use Pakistan to Contain India?
Yes. This is a central foundation of the Beijing-Islamabad alliance:
(1) Two-Front Pressure
By keeping Pakistan military-capable with modern air defense systems, fighter jets, and naval frigates, China ensures that India must split its military focus, resources, and budget between its western border (Pakistan) and its northern border (China).
(2) Cheap Balance of Power
Supplying Pakistan with advanced weapons allows Beijing to counter Indian influence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean without needing to deploy its own troops directly.
(3) Protecting CPEC Amid Local Unrest (PoK & Balochistan).
China’s multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is its direct overland link to the Indian Ocean (via Gwadar Port), allowing Beijing to bypass the vulnerable Malacca Strait.
(4) Balochistan Threat
Separatist groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) frequently target Chinese engineers, construction projects, and military personnel. Supplying Pakistan with advanced surveillance drones, armored vehicles, and attack helicopters is vital for Islamabad to police these trade routes.
(5) PoK & Strategic Transport
CPEC infrastructure passes directly through Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PoK). Instability or civil protests in PoK threaten the highway and energy networks linking Xinjiang to Gwadar.
China arms Pakistan to ensure the army can secure these critical corridors against both local disruption and external threats.
Turkey’s Motivation
Turkey’s role is commercial and political rather than anti-India:
(1) Expanding Arms Exports
Turkey’s military-industrial complex (producing Bayraktar drones and MILGEM warships) seeks reliable, paying export customers.
(2) Diplomatic Influence
Partnering with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia elevates Turkey’s geopolitical standing across the Islamic world and the Middle East.
What Is “Brewing”?
An immediate, full-scale regional war remains unlikely due to nuclear deterrence and economic limits. Instead, what is happening is a re-alignment of power:
China is locking down its trade corridor to the Indian Ocean, Turkey is expanding its defense sales, and Pakistan is using foreign capital to maintain strategic deterrence against India while attempting to secure its troubled internal frontiers.
References
1.https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/saudi-pakistan-turkiye-nexus/?hl=en-
2.https://idsa.in/publisher/comments/turkish-defence-exports-to-the-gcc-states?hl=en
3.https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2023/06/22/pakistan-unveils-increased-defense-budget-imf-decries-spending-plan/?hl=en-
4.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/defence/international/chinas-pawn-in-the-middle-east-how-beijing-uses-pakistan-to-sell-weapons/articleshow/132182278.cms?hl=en-
5.https://www.meforum.org/mef-observer/how-pakistan-enables-chinas-expanding-defense-presence-in-the-middle-east?hl=en-
6.https://telanganatoday.com/pakistan-army-chief-says-balochistan-militants-are-foreign-proxies?hl=en-
7.https://www.india.com/news/world/china-and-turkey-landed-weapons-in-pakistan-for-60-hours-straight-should-india-be-worried-updates-8505784/
