By Admin 
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif claimed regarding the JF-17 Thunder fighter jet made in China that there has been an increase in its orders in the last few months. He claimed that after the next six months, Pakistan may not need to take financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In such a situation, it is important to understand how much truth is there in the claim of the Pakistani Defense Minister.
What did Khawaja Asif claim?
In an interview given to Pakistan’s Geo News, Khawaja Asif claimed, ‘Our fighter jet has been tested and we are getting so many orders that there will be no need for IMF in the next 6 months.’ Khawaja Asif’s statement has come at a time when Pakistan was forced to sell Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) due to IMF conditions.
Pakistan is relying on IMF
Pakistan is currently somehow saving itself under the IMF program of $7 billion. This started after the short term agreement of $3 billion, which saved Pakistan from bankruptcy in 2023. Pakistan received IMF support after maintaining financial support and deposits from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf allies. IMF has given this loan to Pakistan with many strict conditions. This includes fiscal reforms, subsidy cuts and revenue generation initiatives, which Pakistan will have to implement to get the loan.
Talks are going on with many countries regarding JF-17
In recent months, Pakistan has expanded its defense sector to increase arms exports and earn money from the domestic defense industry. JF-17 has become the basis of the weapon development program of the Pakistani Army. Under this, the news of a defense deal worth 4 billion dollars with Azerbaijan and Libyan National Army came out, which is one of the biggest defense deals of Pakistan till date. Pakistan has also discussed the possible sale of JF-17 fighter jets with Bangladesh.
According to a Reuters report, Islamabad is engaged in talks to provide JF-17 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia in exchange for a loan of $2 billion. Air Marshal and analyst Aamir Masood told Reuters that Pakistan is in talks or has finalized deals with six countries for the supply of equipment, electronic systems and weapon systems for the jet, including the JF-17.
How much truth is there in Khwaja Asif’s claims?
According to India Today report, on Khawaja Asif’s claim, Pakistani political writer Ayesha Siddiqa said that the PAK minister is talking like many journalists who claim to cover defense matters and cannot tell the difference between the tail section of an aircraft and the front section of a submarine.
He said, ‘Pakistan has about 35 percent of the JF-17 Thunder fighter jet structure. Due to this, Pakistan does not have enough money left to repay the loan from the International Monetary Fund. He claimed that after production, Pakistan does not have enough money left with which it can recover from the IMF loan.