Pakistan seeks greater military exports to Bahrain and Nigeria
Author:Jon Grevatt, Bangkok
Section:ASIA PACIFIC
Country:
Pakistan
Last posted:2014-03-20
Pakistan has highlighted further opportunities to export its military equipment to Bahrain and Nigeria.
Government statements said that Pakistan is pursuing opportunities for further defence trade and related industrial collaboration with both nations. The government also noted its ability to offer "good offset programmes" to its defence export customers, although did not elaborate.
Following meetings between Pakistan and Nigerian defence officials on 17 March, a statement outlined opportunities to increase defence trade and joint production programmes.
Nigeria is a known target customer for the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex JF-17 Thunder aircraft, jointly developed by Pakistan and China. It has also previously expressed interest in acquiring Al-Zarrar main battle tanks produced by Heavy Industries Taxila, Kaan 33 fast attack craft constructed by Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works, and a range of firearms.
On 19 March the Pakistan government said following meetings with defence officials from Bahrain that the two countries would look to undertake co-operation in defence production activities, although it did not disclose details. This collaboration would almost certainly be focused around low-tech land systems, given Bahrain's lack of defence industrial capability.
Bahrain has previously been cited by Islamabad as a purchaser of arms and ammunitions manufactured by the state-owned Pakistan Ordnance Factories. Other major customers include Abu Dhabi, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
COMMENT
According to the Pakistan's Defence Export Promotion Organization, the country's military exports climbed considerably during the 2000s reaching around USD400 million by the end of the decade.
This relatively strong amount of trade reflects an industrial base that, although hampered by poor infrastructure and under-investment, has developed capability to produce, in response to internal requirements, conventional materiel as well as equipment used in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.
JDW
