Pakistan adds new batch of Chinese fighter jets to fleet

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Pakistan on Friday formally inducted the first batch of Chinese-built fighter jets to its fleet.

Observers say the J-10C jets are Pakistan's answer to archrival India's induction of the French Rafale jets.

The induction ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Chinese envoy in Islamabad, and the services chiefs of Pakistan's armed forces.

“I am fully confident that now no one can make an aggressive move against Pakistan, because our forces would retaliate with full power,” Khan said at the ceremony broadcast live by state-run Pakistan Television.

China, a close ally of Pakistan, delivered the jets to Pakistan eight months after the signing of an agreement between the two countries.

Pakistan has not disclosed the details of the deal or how many jets have arrived.

South Asia is witnessing an arms race as Pakistan and India, two nuclear-armed neighbors, continue acquiring modern weapons to counter threats.

In 2019, India received Rafale fighter jets from France after New Delhi paid €7.8 billion ($9.2 billion) for the purchase of 36 aircraft.

The two countries have fought three wars, two of them over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid