If you go to your local car dealer and tell him you want to buy a certain model, will he ask you to show the money first, or will he present the car, it's advantages and capabilities first?
Pakistan is not bankrupt of course and can by arms even with loans and that's why foreign countries go on to offer you arms, like the Tiger, or Marlin, because it's about makeing money. But at the end it depends on the budget you have, if you can buy the car/arms that was offered to you.
Just like AgNoStIc MuSliM, or nearly all reports regarding this issue said, the finacial side of the deal wasn't clear (from Pakistans side), which most likely is one of the main reasons of this issue. If that is cleared and PAF can convince that the techs won't be given to China, I am sure France will fix the deal, because it's still on hold only right?
Well, whatever you say Sir, as for me, no need to arguing further.
Let the Indian deals get finalized, then we will see who was right and which was the major cause, the economic side or the Indian influence.
And as for Pakistan buying weapons on loans, we buy on loans from where we can get, from where we can't, we pay in cash, and as said on many occasions to Indian members, kindly see the budget of Pakistan and see what it is and how much money is generated, getting 1B or more out of the budget for important deals such like these ones, is not a big issue when it comes to that.
And as for this deal, said before, the French knew about our economic conditions, but still went ahead, as for your above example, if they had asked for money first, then it wouldn't had come to this stage of the contract where nearly everything was finalized. They would have said, show us the cheque and then we will even talk to you about it.
If the first report when the news about the French deal was surfaced, it said the deal is nearly finalized and would be signed in the first half of the current year, so if they were so much confident about the signing of the deal in the first half of the year, then from where did the money thing came up right 2-3 months before the signing deadline. These negotiations much have been going on for more then a year atleast, then where was money then.
And the order figure was for 100 fighters, and we all know when the order would be placed, it would be not for all 100, rather in batches of either 25 or 50, and the payment would also be in that manner.
We made a deal with US for 36 F-16s, in the manner of 18 first and with an option to order another 18 if required. Did we pay for all the 36 F-16s, Nops. We payed for the 18 first and then if we order the other 18, we will pay more.
Similarly, if we negotiate a deal of avionics & weapons for 100 JF-17s, we can order for 50 fighters first and pay for them and once the first 50 ordered gets fulfilled, then we order and pay for the next 50, in such manner the deal doesn't becomes of Billions rather it reduces to half, a payment which we can do easily.
But as said, let the Indian deals get finalized, then we will see who is right and who isn't, till then we can all speculate on the reasons, but the facts don't support the economic factor more.