Despite facing a crushing defeat at the hands of India in Operation Sindoor, Pakistan is now trying to portray this military confrontation as a profitable deal for itself. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that after the four-day military conflict with India last year, Pakistan has seen an increase in export orders for military aircraft.

Asif says that if these orders are completed on time, then poor Pakistan’s dependence on IMF can end. This statement has come at a time when a high-level defense delegation from Bangladesh has met Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu.

Preparation to sell JF-17 fighter jet to Bangladesh

According to reports, the possible sale of JF-17 Thunder fighter jet was discussed in this meeting. Let us tell you that JF-17 is a joint project of China and Pakistan. This is a low-cost multi-role fighter jet, which has been deployed in the Pakistani Air Force for the last decade. Pakistan offers it as an option for those countries which are unable to buy weapons from western countries or which are under sanctions.

Propaganda against India becomes a selling weapon

JF-17 came into limelight last year in May 2025 during the India-Pakistan conflict. Pakistan had claimed that it had shot down 6 Indian fighter planes. These included French-made Rafale. However, India exposed these claims. Despite this, Pakistan intensified the marketing of JF-17, calling it a success. Pakistani military delegation visited many countries and tried to convey the message that Chinese military technology is more effective than Western weapons.

Claim of relief from IMF, but what is the reality?

Khawaja Asif said while talking to Geo News, ‘The orders we are getting are very important. Our aircraft has been tested. If all these orders are completed in six months, then perhaps we may not need the IMF. However, Khawaja Asif’s statement related to IMF seems hollow because the fighter jet deal is a long and complex process. Payment is made over several years. It is almost impossible to end IMF dependence immediately.

Operation Sindoor exposed Chinese weapons

While Pakistan is beating the drum of success of JF-17, the reality of Chinese weapons has come to light during Operation Sindoor. The Indian Air Force entered Pakistan and carried out precise attacks on 11 airbases. In this, important bases like Chaklala, Murid, Rafiki were damaged. Damage was confirmed at many locations. From this it became clear that Pakistani air defense and Chinese systems could not stand against India.

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Russian defense experts said on Sunday (October 5, 2025) that Delhi would really benefit from the alleged sale of RD-93 engine to Pakistan for use in JF-17. Experts rejected the criticism of the Government of India on this issue as unfair.

Pyotrakanov, the head of the section on new challenges in South and South-East Asia at the prestigious Praimkov Institute in Moscow, said to PTI-language, ‘I don’t think criticism is appropriate here. If the news of providing engines for JF-17 fighter jet from Russia is correct, then India will really benefit from two ways.

He said, ‘First of all, it shows that China and Pakistan have not yet managed to change the Russian engine. Secondly, the new aircraft will be familiar and estimated to India, especially because both share the same engine and India has seen the operational use of JF-17 during the May 2025 crisis (Operation Sindoor).

Topicanov reminded that China had requested Russia to supply the RD-93 engine as a temporary measure for its FC-17 jet and the issue of transfer of it to Pakistan was raised from Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr. Manmohan Singh at the time of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

Russia with technology transfer to India Rd-33 engine license was given

However, another expert said on the condition of keeping his name secret that he remembers the conversation on this issue. He said, “Moscow assured New Delhi that the RD-93 deal is completely commercial without any technical transfer (TOT), while India has been licensed far better RD-33 engines under technical transfer (TOT).”

The RD-93 produced by the Climov plant, compared to its original RD-33, gives more thrust, but its service period is short. The service period of RD-93 is 2,200 hours, while RD-33 has 4,000 hours.

Under a tripartite agreement between Russia-China-Pakistan, Russia is supplying a fully assembled RD-93 engine since the early 2000s. Pakistan is now wanting a revised version, which has not yet developed. There has been no official statement about sale.

Congress targeted the Government of India regarding Russia

The Congress had said on Saturday (October 4, 2025), citing media news for the supply of engine for Pakistani fighter aircraft JF-17, that it is the failure of Modi government’s diplomacy and it should tell the country why Russia, a trusted partner of India, is giving military support to Pakistan.

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh cited reports that Russia is supplying advanced RD-93 MA engine for JF-17 fighter aircraft.

BJP retaliated on Congress

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday (October 5, 2025) called the reports of Russia on the supply of JF-17 jet engine to Pakistan, and criticized the Congress for raising the issue on social media. The BJP accused the Congress of taking the enemy’s side instead of India.

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