New Delhi: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has denied reports suggesting that China will supply J-35A stealth fighter jets to the Pakistan Air Force by 2026.
In an interview with Saudi Arabia-based news outlet Arab News last week, Asif dismissed the claims and said, “I think it’s only in the media, you know… It’s good for Chinese defence sales.”
The J-35A, a fifth-generation twin-engine stealth fighter under development by China’s Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, is positioned as Beijing’s answer to the US F-35. Its potential transfer to Pakistan was being viewed as a game-changing move that could shift the region’s aerial balance of power—particularly in the aftermath of the military hostilities between India and Pakistan along the Line of Control and International Border in May after the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack and India’s Operation Sindoor.
However, Asif’s comments suggest that no formal agreement exists between Beijing and Islamabad for the acquisition. “It’s good for sales,” he said, hinting that such reports may serve more to boost interest in Chinese defence exports than reflect any actual bilateral deal.
Pakistan-China defence ties
Pakistan, and its all-weather ally China, share a decade-old strategic partnership, anchored in economic, military and geopolitical cooperation. Their defence ties include joint ventures, such as the JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft—co-developed by both nations, and now a backbone of the Pakistan Air Force. The J-35A represents a significant technological leap beyond current joint platforms, featuring radar-evading capabilities and advanced avionics.
During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan employed Chinese-origin fighter jets, PL-15 missiles and drones. At the same time, the deployment of Chinese survey vessel Da Yang Yi Hao—equipped with cutting-edge sensors—in the Indian Ocean points to a deeper strategic alignment. Alongside Chinese military technology, Pakistan’s use of Chinese air defence systems and satellite-based ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) support in response to Operation Sindoor reflects growing tactical coordination.
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, meanwhile, Thursday strongly condemned Pakistan-based terror groups during a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China. With Pakistan’s Asif present, Singh asserted that the SCO must speak with one voice against terrorism and reject double standards, when it comes to confronting such threats.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)