Author: Saad Saeed and Mubasher Bukhari
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan is in the final stages of a $1.5 billion deal to supply arms and jets to Sudan and has pledged to significantly strengthen Sudan’s military to counter the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, a former senior air force official and three sources said.
Their conflict has sparked the world’s worst humanitarian crisis for more than 2-1/2 years, attracted countless foreign interests and threatened to divide the strategic Red Sea nation, a major gold producer.
The deal with Pakistan includes 10 Karakoram-8 light attack aircraft, more than 200 drones for reconnaissance and kamikaze attacks and advanced air defense systems, said two of three people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named.
Retired Pakistan Air Marshal Aamir Masood, who continues to be briefed on air force matters, said it was “a done deal.”
He added that in addition to the Karakoram-8 jets, there would be Super Mushshak trainers and perhaps some of the coveted JF-17 fighter jets jointly developed with China and produced in Pakistan, but he did not give numbers or a delivery schedule.
Pakistan’s military and its defense ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A spokesman for the Sudanese army did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
Aid from Pakistan, particularly drones and jets, could help the Sudanese army regain the air superiority it had at the start of the war with Air Forces Sans Frontières, which has increasingly used drones to seize territory, weakening the Sudanese army’s position.
Sudan’s army accuses SSF of being armed by the United Arab Emirates, which denies supplying weapons.
Possibility of Saudi support
The sources did not disclose the source of funding for the deal, but Massoud said the money could come from Saudi Arabia.
“Saudi Arabia is likely to favor and support any regime in the Gulf that facilitates the procurement of Pakistani military equipment and training,” he said.
One of the sources said the deal was brokered by Saudi Arabia, but added there was no indication they were paying for the weapons. Another source said Saudi Arabia provided no funds.
According to Reuters, Islamabad is negotiating with Riyadh on a defense deal that could be worth between $2 billion and $4 billion.
Massoud said weapons supplies to Sudan could be included in such a deal, but did not confirm discussions with Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi government media office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are part of the U.S.-led Quad group trying to push Sudan’s army and Forces Without Borders into peace talks.
Sudanese Army Chief of Staff Abdel Fattah al-Burhan requested Saudi aid in the war during a recent visit, according to Sudanese and Egyptian sources.
Recent events in Yemen have sparked a major dispute between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.
The two most powerful countries in the Gulf are deeply divided over a range of volatile Middle East issues, from geopolitics to oil production.
Their differences became public in early December when a UAE-backed offensive by southern Yemeni separatists led to clashes with Saudi-backed forces.
Pakistan’s defense ambitions
The deal is another bright spot for Pakistan’s growing defense sector, which has attracted growing interest and investment, especially since deploying its jets in a conflict with India last year.
Last month, Islamabad struck an arms deal worth more than $4 billion with the Libyan National Army, one of the South Asian country’s largest arms sales, officials said, including JF-17 fighter jets and training aircraft.
As ties with Dhaka improve, Pakistan has also negotiated a defense deal with Bangladesh that could include Super Mushak trainer aircraft and JF-17 fighter jets.
The government sees Pakistan’s booming industry as a catalyst for ensuring long-term economic stability.
Pakistan has now joined a $7 billion International Monetary Fund program after reaching a short-term deal to avoid a sovereign default in 2023. Pakistan won support from the International Monetary Fund after Saudi Arabia and other Gulf allies offered financial and deposit rollovers.
(Reporting by Saad Sayeed in Islamabad and Mubasher Bukhari in Lahore; Additional reporting by Ariba Shahid, Khalid Abdelaziz and Ahmed Shalaby; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)