Pakistan remains Beijing's top arms importer 'Made-in-China weapons'

Pakistan’s military hardware is now largely sourced from China, with about 80 per cent of its arms imports coming from Beijing, according to a new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). 

Pakistan was the fifth-largest recipient of major arms globally in 2021–25, up from tenth place in 2016–20. Its arms imports rose by 66 per cent between the two periods,



accounting for 4.2 per cent of total global arms imports.

China remained Pakistan’s main supplier, providing 80 per cent of its imported weapons in 2021–25, up from 73 per cent in 2016–20. 

Further, according to SIPRI, although China supplied major arms to 47 states during the period, 61 per cent of its arms exports went to just one country—Pakistan.