Article Posted on : - Jul 31, 2011

ISLAMABAD (PTI): China will give Pakistan a squadron of the advanced J-10B multi-role, all-weather fighter aircraft in a bid to boost the strategic reach of its close ally, a media report has said.

China has made the offer to Pakistan Army's Chief of General Staff, Lt Gen Waheed Arshad, who has just concluded a week long visit to China, the Pakistani Urdu daily Jang said.

Pakistan will be the first country, after China, to have such advanced aircraft which are equipped with the latest weapons, it said.

During Arshad's visit, China reiterated its defence and economic support to Pakistan and assured him that the relationship between the two countries will reach new heights and Beijing's efforts for the safety and security of "all weather" ally will be never-ending.

Lt Gen Arshad visited many sensitive places in China and called on General Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of general staff of People's Liberation Army and other officials including Lt General Ren Haiquan, the vice president of the National Defence University.

Though China has earlier supplied Pakistan with fighter jets, this is the first time that it is supplying advanced jets to Pakistan.

China and Pakistan have also jointly built an advanced fighter jet, JF-17, commonly known as 'Thunder'.