BEIJING – China’s support developing 48 drones is the part of effortshelping Pakistan to improve its security, , says a report published in theGlobal Times on Thursday.
The paper rejected the Indian criticism to this effect, stating that thedrones will be used for anti-terrorism, peacekeeping, border patroloperations and civilian use.
Last week the Pakistan Air Force’s Sherdils Aerobatic Team announced on itsofficial Facebook account that the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra andthe Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industrial(Group) Company will jointly manufacture 48 Wing Loong II drones.
If confirmed, this will be China’s largest drone deal of its kind.
Several Indian media outlets connected the drone deal with India’s $5billion arms pact signed with Russia last week, indicating a tit-for-tatmove against the India-Russia pact.
The Times of India even made an unwarranted conclusion that this wouldcreate a new battle line between India and Pakistan in the field of armeddrones and warned the Chinese drones would be “good targets” for India’sair defense missile systems, citing military experts.
Some Indians even called for a boycott of China in their tweets.
According to a Xinhua report, China’s home-developed Wing-Loong II dronecan perform reconnaissance, surveillance and ground strike missions,equivalent to the US MQ-9 Reaper drone.
With a system extension, it can be used in anti-terrorism, peacekeeping,border patrol operations and civilian use.
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Indian media may have read too much into the report. China
has long been cautious about arms exports to Pakistan in consideration ofthe latter’s tense relations with India.
The 48 drones are highly likely to be part of China’s efforts to helpPakistan combat the rampant terrorism plaguing the country, rather thantargeting India.Although Islamabad has been a key US ally in the anti-terrorism campaignsince the 9/11 attacks, its requests for armed drones have been turned downby Washington for the reason of sensitive technology.
In 2017 Pakistan witnessed the fourth highest frequency of terror attacksand casualties. Yet the US cancelled $300 million in aid to the South Asiancountry over terror groups in September as part of its broader suspensionof assistance to Islamabad.
India has been the world’s largest arms importer from 2013-17, with Russiaand the US being its top two suppliers, according to an annual study by theStockholm International Peace Research Institute.
India just clinched a deal to purchase the S-400 air defense missile systemfrom Russia and got US agreement to purchase the Predator-B drone in earlyMay.
Combating terrorism is a priority for Pakistan, but it is also a bigconcern for India. While the Chinese drones help Pakistan rein in terrorismand improve its security situation in the future, they will also benefitIndia to some degree. Perhaps Indian people and media should see the brightside more and stop feeling they are always being targeted by others. – APP
