Director General Inter Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has clarified that Pakistan is not competing in any arms race with India, emphasizing that the country’s military strategy focuses on efficiency, indigenous development, and cost-effective technology integration.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Lt Gen Chaudhry said Pakistan is open to acquiring technology from any source whether local, Chinese, or Western as long as it strengthens national defence. “We are open to acquiring all sorts of technology. Recent Chinese platforms have demonstrated exceptional performance,” he noted.
Rejecting the idea of rivalry, he stated, “Pakistan neither engages in an arms race with India nor manipulates facts and figures. Our defence budget is only a fraction of our neighbour’s. We simply don’t have the luxury of unlimited funds.”
The DG ISPR also highlighted the successful performance of Pakistan’s Chinese-origin J-10C fighter jets during Operation Marka-e-Haq, which reportedly shot down multiple Indian aircraft, including the Rafale. “India couldn’t shoot down even a single Pakistani jet,” he added.
His remarks came after former US President Donald Trump confirmed that seven Indian aircraft were downed during the conflict. Pakistan’s calibrated military strategy and effective media management, according to Chaudhry, helped counter India’s misinformation campaign and project Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace and stability.
He further shared that Pakistan’s defence inventory includes both American-made F-16s and newly inducted Chinese Z-10ME helicopters, reflecting a balanced and diversified approach to defence procurement.
The brief but intense Indo-Pak conflict in May 2025 cost India over $1.7 billion in damages, compared to Pakistan’s $236 million, according to official assessments. The episode also internationalized the Kashmir issue and underscored Pakistan’s mature diplomatic response.
Lt Gen Chaudhry stressed that while Pakistan continues to prioritize peace, it will maintain strong defence preparedness to ensure deterrence and protect national sovereignty.
