Chinese weapons did ‘exceptionally well’ in May, says ISPR DG.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said that Pakistan’s military development strategy revolves around incorporating effective, efficient platforms and promoting domestic defense technologies.
In an exclusive interview with international publication Bloomberg, the ISPR chief emphasized that Pakistan remains open to acquiring advanced technologies from both eastern and western sources while also strengthening its own indigenous capabilities.
Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif told Bloomberg that Pakistan’s defense approach is guided by a desire for technological efficiency and operational effectiveness rather than rivalry.
“Our military development strategy has always been to incorporate effective and efficient platforms and domestic Pakistani technology,” he said.
He further stated that Pakistan is “ready to acquire all kinds of technology, whether it is self-made or from the East and the West,” signalling Islamabad’s pragmatic stance on defense modernisation.
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No arms race with India
Clarifying Pakistan’s defense posture, the DG ISPR categorically denied that the country is involved in any arms race with India.
“Pakistan is not involved in an arms race with India,” he asserted, adding that the nation’s defense initiatives are rooted in regional stability and deterrence rather than escalation.
He also stressed that Pakistan “has never tried to play with or hide data and facts”, highlighting transparency as a cornerstone of the country’s defense communications.
Bloomberg report on air combat claims
During the interview, Lt Gen Chaudhry also reiterated that India failed to shoot down any Pakistani aircraft during the May clashes between the two countries.
He also referred to comments made by US President Donald Trump a week earlier, who mentioned that seven aircraft had been shot down during the confrontation in May without mentioning which side did so.
According to Bloomberg, Pakistan’s Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets played a decisive role, shooting down multiple Indian Air Force aircraft, including the Rafale, during the ‘Marka-e-Haq’ campaign.
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Lt Gen Sharif confirmed the “exceptional performance of Pakistani weapons, including Chinese platforms”, used by the Pakistan Army during the engagement.
He praised the operational readiness and technological reliability of Pakistan’s defense systems, which combine indigenous innovation with international partnerships.
Highlighting Pakistan’s modernisation efforts, Bloomberg quoted Lt Gen Chaudhry as saying that in August, Pakistan announced the inclusion of the Z-10ME attack helicopter — a Chinese-made platform — into its arsenal.
The report added that Pakistan operates a diverse mix of weaponry, including Chinese systems and US-made F-16 fighter aircraft, reflecting a hybrid defense procurement strategy that blends reliability and performance.
