Mon Dec 23 19:20:57 UTC 2024: ## Pakistan Poised to Become First Foreign Operator of China’s Advanced J-35A Stealth Fighter

**Islamabad, Pakistan/Beijing, China** – Pakistan is reportedly on the verge of acquiring 40 J-35A stealth fighter jets from China, a deal that would make it the first country outside of China to operate this advanced aircraft and mark a significant shift in regional power dynamics. The deal, if finalized, would also represent the first export of China’s most advanced military aircraft.

According to reports in the South China Morning Post and Pakistani media, the Pakistan Air Force has approved the purchase, with delivery expected within two years. China’s self-sufficient defense industry is reportedly capable of mass production, eliminating reliance on foreign components. While Beijing has yet to officially confirm the deal, high-level meetings between Chinese and Pakistani military officials in November, shortly after the J-35A’s public unveiling, strongly suggest its imminent conclusion.

The J-35A, a twin-engine, multi-role fighter jet, is comparable to the US F-35, though with a twin-engine configuration. Its capabilities include air superiority, ground attack, and anti-ship missions. The acquisition aims to modernize Pakistan’s aging fleet of F-16s and Mirage fighters.

The deal comes despite Pakistan’s ongoing economic crisis and substantial debt to China. Experts question how Islamabad will finance such a large purchase, speculating that further Chinese loans might be involved. Concerns are mounting about Pakistan’s growing debt burden and its potential implications for national sovereignty.

Furthermore, reports indicate increasing pressure from China to allow the deployment of Chinese security personnel along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a project that traverses Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Balochistan. While Pakistan has reportedly resisted deploying Chinese troops on its soil due to sovereignty concerns, the ongoing negotiations surrounding the J-35A deal and the CPEC highlight the complex relationship between the two nations. The potential implications of this unprecedented military agreement, including its impact on regional stability and Pakistan’s long-term economic and geopolitical future, remain a subject of intense speculation.

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