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Chinese language and Turkish navy plane had been reportedly seen touchdown at Pakistan’s Nur Khan airbase close to Rawalpindi in addition to at Masroor airbase in Karachi
The most recent reported airlift exercise additionally follows the signing of the Mecca Joint Defence Settlement by Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia on August 7. (AI-Generated Picture)
A reported surge in navy air site visitors from China and Türkiye into Pakistan has raised contemporary questions over potential defence gear transfers to Islamabad, with safety sources claiming that heavy navy transport plane made repeated journeys to Pakistani airbases over a roughly 60-hour interval.
In response to a prime safety supply, Chinese language navy plane had been seen touchdown at Pakistan’s Nur Khan airbase close to Rawalpindi in addition to at Masroor airbase in Karachi. Turkish navy transport plane had been additionally reportedly concerned within the heightened exercise.
The supply claimed that the plane actions had been linked to the transportation of navy gear, together with drones and different defence-related matériel. The reported exercise comes in opposition to the backdrop of an more and more shut defence relationship between Pakistan, China and Türkiye.
Pakistan has lengthy relied closely on China for navy {hardware}, together with fight plane, air-defence programs and unmanned platforms. The connection has additionally deepened since final yr’s India-Pakistan navy confrontation, with China acknowledging that its aviation business personnel offered technical help to Pakistan in the course of the battle.
Türkiye, in the meantime, has emerged as an essential defence accomplice for Islamabad, significantly in drones, naval programs and aerospace know-how. In Might, Pakistan’s air chief held high-level conferences in Türkiye targeted on defence, aerospace innovation, unmanned programs and rising applied sciences.
Earlier this month, Türkiye and Pakistan additionally moved to deepen their cooperation in fighter-aircraft growth. Turkish officers mentioned practically 200 Pakistani engineers and officers had been already concerned within the growth of Türkiye’s KAAN fifth-generation fighter programme, whereas Ankara mentioned discussions would start on formally bringing Pakistan into the venture.
The most recent reported airlift exercise additionally follows the signing of the Mecca Joint Defence Settlement by Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia on August 7. The settlement offers that an armed assault in opposition to one of many three nations can be considered an assault in opposition to all three, though officers have confused that the pact is defensive and isn’t directed in opposition to any explicit nation.
Towards this backdrop, any sustained motion of navy transport plane between China, Türkiye and Pakistan is prone to appeal to scrutiny, significantly if the flights contain the switch of drones, weapons or different gear.
The reported exercise is notable additionally due to its scale and timing. Safety sources described the focus of heavy navy plane actions over the 60-hour interval as uncommon, suggesting that it might level to a logistical push moderately than routine bilateral navy site visitors.
Pakistan has in recent times expanded its use of each Chinese language and Turkish unmanned programs. The reported airlift, if confirmed, would subsequently match right into a broader sample of Pakistan diversifying and strengthening its navy provide relationships with China and Türkiye.
For India, the event might be vital as a result of it comes after a interval wherein Islamabad has sought to replenish and improve navy capabilities whereas deepening defence partnerships with each nations.
In regards to the Creator
Group Editor, Investigations and Safety Affairs, Network18
Islamabad, Pakistan
August 20, 2026, 12:13 IST
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