Newsletters
Pakistan is in the final stages of a deal worth about $1.5 billion to supply weapons and aircraft to Sudan, according to the report by a former senior air force official and three sources familiar with the matter.
The agreement would provide a significant boost to Sudan’s army, which has been fighting the paramilitary RSF for more than two and a half years.
The conflict has triggered what aid groups describe as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, drawing in foreign interests and raising concerns about the fragmentation of the Red Sea nation, which is also a major gold producer.
Sources said the package includes 10 Karakoram-eight light attack aircraft, more than 200 drones for reconnaissance and kamikaze-style attacks, and advanced air defense systems.
Retired Air Marshal Aamir Masood said the agreement was effectively completed, describing it as a “done deal.”
Masood added that the deal also covers Super Mushshak training aircraft and may include JF-17 fighter jets jointly developed with China and produced in Pakistan, though no delivery schedule or exact figures were disclosed.
Pakistan’s military and defense ministry did not immediately comment, and Sudan’s army also did not respond to requests for comment.
Military assistance from Pakistan, particularly drones and aircraft, could help Sudan’s army regain air superiority, which has been increasingly challenged by RSF drone operations.
Sudan’s army has accused the RSF of receiving support from the United Arab Emirates, an allegation the UAE denies.
Sources said it was unclear how the deal would be financed. Masood suggested Saudi Arabia could potentially support the procurement, though other sources said there was no indication Riyadh was funding the weapons.
Reuters has previously reported that Islamabad is in talks with Saudi Arabia on a broader defense agreement that could be worth between $2 billion and $4 billion.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE are part of a U.S.-led grouping that has sought to push Sudan’s warring parties toward peace talks.
Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has recently requested Saudi assistance, according to regional sources, amid rising tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi over issues ranging from Yemen to broader Middle East geopolitics.
The potential Sudan deal would mark another major export for Pakistan’s expanding defense sector, which has attracted growing interest following recent deployments of its aircraft.
Last month, Pakistan signed an arms agreement worth more than $4 billion with Libya’s National Army, and it has also held talks with Bangladesh on possible defense cooperation.
The government views defense exports as a driver of long-term economic stability, as Pakistan operates under a $7 billion IMF program, secured after support from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf allies helped avert a sovereign default in 2023.
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
