Beijing: Pakistan is planning to procure 40 advanced Chinese stealth fighter jets, J-35, marking a potential milestone as China's first export of its fifth-generation fighter aircraft. The acquisition is expected to enhance Pakistan's air capabilities amidst regional tensions with India, according to the South China Morning Post.
The Hong Kong-based publication cited reports from Pakistan suggesting that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has approved the purchase. These jets, slated for delivery within two years, aim to replace the ageing fleet of American F-16s and French Mirage fighters.
Despite Pakistan's ongoing economic crisis, the decision reflects its strategic defence priorities. However, there has been no official confirmation from Chinese authorities or media about the deal. Speculation arose following the display of the J-35 at Zhuhai's prestigious air show last month, which was attended by senior PAF officials.
The J-35 is primarily designed for Chinese aircraft carriers, but its land-based version, the J-31, has been reportedly under consideration. In January, PAF Chief Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu noted that groundwork for acquiring the J-31 had already been established.
China and Pakistan maintain a close military partnership, with Beijing aiding Pakistan's defence modernisation across its armed forces. This includes the joint development of the J-17 Thunder fighter jet, which forms the backbone of the PAF, and the delivery of advanced naval frigates for operations in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea.
These developments come amid heightened bilateral defence cooperation following Chinese General Zhang Youxia’s visit to Pakistan last month. Gen Zhang, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, held talks with Pakistan's Army Chief Gen Asim Munir on regional security and stability.
The visit also saw 300 Chinese troops participating in counter-terrorism drills in Pakistan. Beijing has reportedly urged Islamabad to allow Chinese security firms to protect Chinese workers involved in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, amid increasing attacks by militant groups. However, Pakistan has resisted such moves over sovereignty concerns, opting instead to deploy over 30,000 personnel for their protection.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Balochistan: In an unprecedented escalation, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for a major offensive comprising 71 coordinated attacks across more than 51 locations in what it refers to as "occupied Balochistan." The group has declared that a "new order has become inevitable" in South Asia, issuing a stark warning of impending regional transformation.
According to the BLA, the targets included Pakistani military convoys, intelligence centers, and mineral transport operations. The outfit described the attacks as a demonstration of tactical capability aimed at testing military coordination, ground control, and defensive readiness in anticipation of more organized future warfare.
Rejecting allegations of being a foreign proxy, the BLA asserted its independent agency, calling itself a “dynamic and decisive party” in the region's evolving strategic landscape. “The BLA is neither a pawn nor a silent spectator,” said BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch. “We have our rightful place in the current and future military, political and strategic formation of this region.”
The BLA further criticized Pakistan for what it described as duplicitous peace overtures, calling such gestures “a deception, a war tactic and a temporary ruse.” The group warned India and the international community against being misled by what it termed Pakistan’s “deceptive peace rhetoric.”
Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) also came under sharp attack in the BLA’s statement, which accused the agency of sponsoring terrorism. “Pakistan has become a nuclear state of violent ideology,” the statement read, citing links to global terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and ISIS.
The group appealed for international support, particularly from India, seeking political, diplomatic, and defense assistance to end what it called “the terrorist state.” It argued that such support could lead to the establishment of a “peaceful, prosperous and independent Balochistan.”
The BLA warned that Pakistan's continued trajectory poses a threat to global security. “The control of nuclear weapons by a fanatical military establishment is a ticking time bomb, not only for the region but for the world,” it stated.
In response, Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, downplayed the scale of the unrest, suggesting it was driven by no more than 1,500 individuals.