Briefing: Growing Sino-Pakistani defence co-operation alarms India

The growing defence relationship between China and Pakistan represents a "serious concern" for India, Defence Minister A K Antony said on 27 November.

Speaking in New Delhi, Antony made reference to the increased number of joint Sino-Pakistan military platforms being developed, the transfer of Chinese military technologies to Islamabad and the role that Chinese companies are playing in developing Pakistan's defence industries.

In comments reported by a Ministry of Defence statement, Antony said: "The increasing nexus between China and Pakistan in the military sphere remains an area of serious concern. We have to carry out continuous appraisals of Chinese military capabilities and shape our responses accordingly. At the same time, we need to be vigilant at all times.

"We have taken several steps for enhancing the capacity-building of our armed forces to meet new and varied challenges. However, we will remain steadfast in our pursuit of regional and global peace."

Antony made his comments less than a week after the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) formally took delivery of its first domestically assembled JF-17 fighter aircraft. The aircraft was developed and built by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China's Aviation Industry Corporation.

The two countries have also collaborated on the production of the Chinese-designed Sword-class (F-22P) frigate at the Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW), the Al Khalid main battle tank and an airborne warning and control system aircraft.