Pakistan world's third largest arms recipient, India number one

India accounts for 10% of global arms imports, Pakistan 5%.

The arms race (2007-2011) is firmly centered in Asia, with India being the world’s largest recipient of arms, followed by South Korea and Pakistan and China tied at third place, revealed the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in a new study on international arms transfers.

India accounts for 10% of global arms imports; South Korea 6%; Pakistan 5%; China 5% and Singapore 4%. China was the largest recipient of arms exports from 2002-06, but it fell to fourth place in 2007-11.

According to a report by IANS, the data uncovered that Asia and Oceania account for 44% of global arms imports, followed by Europe 19%; the Middle East 17% and the Americas at 11%. Africa was the lowest with 9%.

The volume of worldwide arms transfers in 2007-11 was 24% higher than in 2002-06 and the five largest arms importers in 2007-11 were all Asian states.

Between 2002-06 and 2007-11, the volume of Chinese arms exports increased by 95 percent and now China ranks as the sixth largest supplier of arms in the world.