Pakistan

Emerging threat: Cabinet to consider Chinese subs

Ministry of Defence informs cabinet that Pakistan Navy is facing critical force imbalance of submarines and ships.

Rauf Klasra March 09, 2011

ISLAMABAD:

The Ministry of Defence has asked the federal cabinet, which meets today (Wednesday), to approve purchase of conventional Chinese submarines on grounds of “emerging threats” that the country faces. It will also pave the way for the joint development of conventional submarines, officials have said.

The defence ministry has informed members of the cabinet that the Pakistan Navy is facing a critical force imbalance in terms of submarines and ships. The capability gap is widening exponentially with the passage of time, the navy adds. Keeping in view such urgent naval requirements, the issue was also part of the talking points for President Zardari during his visit to China in 2009 and subsequently the matter was also discussed during the Chinese prime minister’s visit to Pakistan in 2010.

The cabinet has been also been told that Naval Headquarters had pursued the matter of acquisition of submarines with the concerned Chinese authorities. A mutually agreed draft protocol is to be signed between the Pakistan Navy and the relevant Chinese department as a first step towards joint development of conventional submarines.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (20)

arid | 13 years ago | Reply Threat from politicians !!

Golden Horde | 13 years ago | Reply @saad: We will have more then enough money if the well to do in pakistan pay their taxes! It is not a case of submaries OR education. Both are needed. Whats important is, that people stop stealing the nations wealth. the people of pakistan, that includes YOU, ME and OUR FAMILIES avoid $36billion of tax every year. Yes. you read it right. 36 Billion greenbacks. Lets see if you can get the people YOU know to start paying their taxes. Can you do that for pakistan or are you all talk and no action?

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sana | 13 years ago | Reply who is the threat?government will use submarin against taliban.may be ppp will use it against pml(n):-)armed force is biggest threat to our country.

RizwanTKhan | 13 years ago | Reply Our armed forces should be well equipped all the time. US does not have no threat, and yet its not stopping spending on defense, but rather increasing it.

saad | 13 years ago | Reply so many poor people and we are buying submarines? I think industry, education, and jobs should come first

Golden Horde | 13 years ago | Reply This is excellent news and long expected. Expect to hear of much stronger naval cooperation between the two countries in the near future. More chinese naval ships are expected as well. All flying the pakistan flag ofcourse!. As a next stage, i expect an agreement for joint training which will allow joint staff to operate these naval assets. Pakistan has a great strategic location and the excellent relations with china allow both countries to benefit. @john: you have no idea what you are talking about. atleast read a bit about AIPS before opering your mouth.

Aahmed | 13 years ago | Reply @Maria: Feed your people, they are hungry!

Ali | 13 years ago | Reply The government should focus on the core problems that the country is facing today. We have a huge population of school going age and many of them have no hope for the future. Industry is staggering along due to power/gas shortages. These are the needs of the hour. We are not likely to go to war soon, and while it's quiet lets invest in the future of our country i.e. human capital. The military if anything should be asked to help us by providing security for our energy supplies and if possible lending their educated officers to educational institutions. They have a lot of engineers, some of them foreign trained that could help out educational institute.

frizz | 13 years ago | Reply whats the use of spending money on these useless subs? we should spend money on eduation health and other important issues like japan.

John | 13 years ago | Reply @faisal: @sharjeel khan: Yep, diesel electric, not that quiet or stealth. All in the propulsion system. No qualms in buying all you can. The point is this a time to go for shopping spree?

Mulla Toofhan | 13 years ago | Reply From the Emerging threat I see a business deal for some of our beloved care takers friends, 10ps, 20pc No, pLet's go for 100pc After all the Sale won't last for ever

Maria | 13 years ago | Reply Unfortunately, Pakistan is surrounded by hostile neighbours who are active in causing trouble and instability, primarily India and its proxy Afghanistan. It's only logical that Pakistan has tp defend itself. Do you not recall the nuclear tests in 1997? Pakistan didn't want to test any nuclear weapons but sabre rattling from India forced them to show that Pakistan had an effective deterrence.

meekal ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply I see another financial scam in the making.....

Azman | 13 years ago | Reply @John. Yes you have no idea and or knowledhe about the capability of ISI and pak armed forces as well as her people. Pakistan has been soundly defeated in the battlefield all the four times. But won decisively in the then media. Now the pak taliban is giving them everyday such sound thrashings that they need submarines to fight in the mountains of KP & FATA. He-he-he-he. ops sorry.

thilip | 13 years ago | Reply nothing to say abt this

faisal | 13 years ago | Reply @ John .. one should have enough knowledge about things before passing such comments . i would suggest you not to write comments without having appropriate knowledge as it may misguide many people !!

David | 13 years ago | Reply an excellent decision to take. We should immediately go all out to build these subs in-house.

sharjeel khan | 13 years ago | Reply @John: sir, actually just for your knowledge its the indian army which also uses diesal submarines and contrary to your belief the diesal submarines are amongst the quitiest (stealth) subs in the world while a nuclear powered submarine can be detected miles away,,,,,,,,, just for your information,,,,,

IZ | 13 years ago | Reply The biggest emerging threat to Pakistan is the sheer folly of our military leaders who insist to squandering the country's wealth on useless toys. Our pathetic excuse for a government must, just for this one time in its existence, stand up to these war-mongers and say no submarines until at least 2/3rds of the country's children are able to attend school. Then we'll talk about submarines.

John | 13 years ago | Reply Well, there you go again. The Govt should say, Please tell the world where the " emerging threats" are coming and it will find the money to purchase the " conventional submarine". At one side State Bank of Pakistan is saying that increased Government borrowing from central bank is causing economic strain and literally asks the Govt to stop borrowing and reduce spending. IMF says deficit is too high, implement tax reform, reduce waste and subsidy. Govt is borrowing at high interest rate for infrastructue and people across the world are helping PAK. Navy wants to go on shopping spree on conventional sub. Who in the world is using diesel sub in 21 century that can be heard half the world away with acoustic sonar that children play with? Ask US, Russia, India or any one, they will gladly give conventional sub, for free, may be even pay to take it away. There are thousands on the dock. Unless it is "conventional" sub, a special one? Hmmmm.

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