Pakistan buying Submarines from China, PM approves

As per international news agency it is said that Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has approved a deal "years in the making" to buy eight submarines from China, a Pakistani government official said on Thursday, in what could be one of China's largest overseas weapons sales once it is signed.

The official, who was present at Tuesday's meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence which was briefed by the Navy, said the deal to buy the diesel-electric submarines would likely be signed by Chinese President Xi Jinping when he visits, "but that is still not final".

Xi was due to travel to Pakistan this month, the government in Islamabad has said. China has said Xi would visit this year, but given no timeframe.

China and Pakistan call each other "all-weather friends" and their close ties have been underpinned by long-standing wariness of their common neighbour and rival, India, and a desire to hedge against U.S. influence across the region.

"The prime minister has approved buying eight submarines from China and these would be used to bolster Pakistan's strength," the official, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters.

He added that "last-minute homework is pending".

Pakistani defense system is already thought to be very high profile and these submarines will make it stronger; but perhaps the need of hour is not weapons, while many are dying of hunger in Thar, these submarines can do no good. The pomp and show behavior of adding weapons to fear the enemy will lead to no good.