Military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf has said that Pakistan plans to buy Chinese F-7 fighter planes to strengthen its air force, a Pakistani newspaper reported Sunday. Pakistan needs to modernize its air force, Musharraf told reporters Saturday in the remote Liari area in southwestern Baluchistan province, according to the English-language daily Dawn. We are going to have a deal with China because the government wants to make the air force strong,'' he said. But Musharraf gave no other details about the deal. He did not say how many planes would be purchased or when.
China is Pakistan's key supplier of weapons and a strong ally.
Chinese aircraft already form a major part of the Pakistan air force. The nuclear tests were followed by a series of missile tests by the two countries, sparking fears of a possible nuclear conflict in the region. Pakistan's air force is small compared to the Indian air force. The two neighboring countries have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947. Pakistan is planning to buy sophisticated F-7MG fighter jets from China but the move should not affect relations with the United States, military ruler General Pervez Musharraf said Saturday.