Pakistan’s air force has officially inducted its first batch of Chinese-built J-10C fighter jets, with a ceremony in Islamabad attended by officials from both sides.
On Friday, Pakistan’s air force officially inducted its first batch of Chinese-built J-10C fighter jets at a ceremony in Islamabad attended by officials from both countries.
Several of the jets flew overhead as Prime Minister Imran Khan welcomed the unspecified purchase. Pakistan has not stated how many aircraft were purchased in the deal, though officials had previously stated that up to 25 jets could be purchased. China has been a long-time ally of Pakistan, and it has previously sold it military aircraft.
The ceremony takes place just one day after Pakistan said an unarmed surface-to-surface missile launched from India landed inside the country, damaging a wall in a residential area but causing no casualties.
Following the incident, Pakistan summoned an Indian diplomat and lodged a protest, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.
Without naming neighbouring India, Khan stated in his Friday speech that the Chinese-built planes would play an important role in correcting the region’s “security imbalance.”
Later that day, India’s defence ministry issued a statement claiming that the missile that ended up in Pakistan was fired by mistake due to a technical malfunction during “routine maintenance” on Wednesday. According to the report, the government has ordered an investigation.
“While the incident is deeply regrettable, it is also a source of relief that no lives were lost as a result of the accident,” India said.
Pakistan and India have a long history of hostility. They have fought three wars, two of which were fought over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, which is divided between the two but claimed by both.
