Pakistan Nears $1.5 Billion Weapons and Jet Deal With Sudan Amid Ongoing War

Post by : Saif

Pakistan is close to finalizing a major defence agreement worth about $1.5 billion to supply weapons, aircraft and drones to Sudan, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. If completed, the deal would mark one of Pakistan’s largest overseas arms exports and could have a serious impact on Sudan’s ongoing civil war.

Sudan has been locked in a brutal conflict for more than two and a half years between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF. The fighting has caused massive destruction, displaced millions of people, and created what international groups describe as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Control of the skies has been a key factor in the war, and Sudan’s army has struggled as the RSF increased its use of drones.

Sources say the proposed deal includes 10 Karakoram-8 light attack aircraft, more than 200 drones used for surveillance and suicide-style attacks, and advanced air defence systems. It may also include Super Mushshak training aircraft and possibly JF-17 fighter jets, which are jointly developed by Pakistan and China and produced inside Pakistan. Exact numbers and delivery dates have not been made public.

A retired senior Pakistani air force officer described the deal as essentially finalized. However, Pakistan’s defence ministry and military have not officially confirmed the agreement, and Sudan’s army has also not commented publicly.

Military analysts believe that support from Pakistan, especially in the form of drones and combat aircraft, could help Sudan’s army regain air dominance. This could change the course of the conflict, as the RSF has recently used drones to capture territory and weaken the army’s position.

Questions remain about how the deal will be funded. Some sources suggest Saudi Arabia may have helped broker the agreement, though there is no clear evidence that Riyadh is paying for the weapons. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are already in talks over a separate defence cooperation deal that could be worth billions of dollars. Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates are also part of international efforts to push Sudan’s warring sides toward peace, even as regional rivalries continue to shape the conflict.

For Pakistan, the Sudan deal highlights the rapid growth of its defence industry. In recent months, Pakistan signed a weapons deal worth over $4 billion with Libya and held defence talks with Bangladesh. The country’s military exports have gained attention after Pakistani jets were used in last year’s conflict with India.

The Pakistani government sees defence manufacturing as a key part of its long-term economic plan. With the country currently under a $7 billion IMF program, expanding arms exports is viewed as one way to earn foreign revenue and stabilize the economy.

While the deal could strengthen Pakistan’s position as a global arms supplier, it also raises concerns about fueling an already devastating war in Sudan. As the conflict continues to tear the country apart, international observers worry that more weapons may deepen the suffering of civilians rather than bring peace any closer.

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