Pakistan’s JF-17 fighter jets offer Why Sri Lanka abandoned the deal
By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan- 2016-01-17
Congratulatory messages on several social networking sites flowed in big numbers from Pakistanis around the world saying kudos to their Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his first 'sale' of 8 JF-17 thunder jets to Sri Lanka, but within a few days, it came down with a thud when Sri Lanka said, "Sorry we call it a day with the deal."
Several Pakistani media also quoted that the deal for JF-17s will be inked during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's three-day visit to Colombo that took place two weeks ago.
The sudden pullout from the deal upset Pakistanis and point blankly they said it was another vicious move by the Indians.
A deal struck with the Chinese came under criticism during the Rajapaksa regime because they banked on 'more than the share' and today Sri Lanka is 'rolling her eyes' unable to decide on the deal of the century – the mega Port City Project due to India's strong opposition based on their analysis that China 'lacks transparency' and Sri Lanka is 'unaware of it.'
Pakistan, a friend for all seasons, wanted to come stronger than before and struck the best of all deals besides the usual textile, rubber, tea, rice and dhal deals - to sell 8 Thunder fighter jets: Chinese machines assembled in Pakistan.The test in Sri Lanka 'failed' to impress them.
The powerful government of India has been instrumental in Sri Lanka's development and politically involved too due to the cultural link that topped the Indo-Lanka agendas.
Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sherif was all in praise of the government like Premier of India Narendra Modi did while he was here last year, yet, the great receptions and attention paid to Premier Sharif was 'far too less' when compared.
Premier Modi addressed the Sri Lankan Parliament a privilege many others never enjoyed. There was a speculation that even Premier Sharif had asked for similar presence in the Sri Lankan Parliament but it was 'refused.'
sigh of relief
They are considered as minute issues for Sri Lanka. The blow to Pakistan when Sri Lanka cancelled the deal to buy 8 fighter jets was a 'sigh of relief' for India.
Sri Lanka is trapped as usual in the deplorable subtle fights between the regional giants.
Brigadier (Retired) Rahul K. Bhonsle, Indian Army military veteran with 30 years active field experience in counter militancy and terrorism operations and who is at present the Director of Sasia Security-Risks.com, a South Asian security risk and knowledge management consultancy focusing on South Asia says, in his understanding, the deal was called off.
He says, this time, more than the Chinese, it is the Pakistani involvement in the deal that has triggered concerns. He viewed that India cannot have a Pakistani combat aircraft with the Sri Lankan Air Force, that 'spells an alliance' of sorts. "Now that the situation in Sri Lanka has changed there is no necessity, according to India, for Sri Lanka to sustain a military technical partnership with Pakistan. So India has put its foot down on the deal," he said.
He also viewed that Sri Lanka may not be going in for any fighter jets right now. "The requirement is not there and it was only Pakistani hard-sell that was attempting to provide to Colombo at low cost but the deal is now off," he remarked.
economic capability
"Of course there is no requirement or economic capability to buy them. However, the push from the SLAF may be one reason for continued procurements so that capabilities remains live, he said, when he was informed that Sri Lanka's Defence Ministry is preparing to 'call' for expression of interest in purchasing fighter jets and still not struck the deal with Pakistan. This was told to Ceylon Today prior to Premier Sharif's visit to Sri Lanka.
Of course, the Defence Ministry endorsed that Premier Sharif will endorse the deal of purchasing the JF-17 which confirms that the deal has been 'called off.'
However, head of the JF-17 sales and marketing team, Air Commodore Khalid Mahmood last June 2015 confirmed that an Aisan country has agreed to buy their Sino-Pak Thunder jets. Khalid even refused to name the country but stated that deliveries will begin in 2017.
Pakistan diplomatic circle views that India blowing hot and cold with Sri Lanka at every step it takes in developing the country, has its own deals when other countries approach Sri Lanka.
The push for India's Teja fighter jets to be purchased by Sri Lanka has been there for a while but is that what is upsetting India?
Brigadier Bhonsle said. "That is a speculation and India has yet to produce it in enough numbers for its Air Force. It will be 10 years before it can practically export one to Sri Lanka."
The Pakistani think tanks who are ex-military officials, military experts and diplomats also mailed the writer saying that the "Deal is on because Beijing is footing the bill for the fighter jets and the matter has kept as secret as Indians cannot absorb it. They also reveal that India has threatened Sri Lanka that US$ 400M aid would be stopped in case they buy the jets and China will either give a soft loan to Sri Lanka or a guarantee to Pakistan in order to facilitate the sale of the eight jets.
Pakistan has always helped Sri Lanka militarily during the war. Pakistan even assisted the Sri Lankan security forces in their operations against the LTTE even before the Rajapaksas came to power. But why should Sri Lanka reject them now?
The Indian diplomatic circle says that if Chinese jets that are assembled in Pakistan are in Sri Lanka, the Chinese would 'perhaps' come to provide technical assistance which is 'double trouble.'
China's presence in Sri Lanka has been condemned to the hilt by the Indians while Indo-China relationship is also 'uncertain.'
The Security Trends South Asia: India Defence Stability Projections and Trends explain in their latest statistics:
"Cooperative federalism and centre state political relations of India is uncertain and the active and numerically balanced opposition – Positive Minus; overcoming communal and hate politics – negative; capacity building for nuclear and conventional war fighting deterrence – negative; conflict resolution Jammu and Kashmir, North East and Central Indian States affected by Naxalism – positive.
conflict de-escalation
On India's geo political/regional: conflict de-escalation with Pakistan is uncertain; boundary resolution and management of border China positive; evolving a cooperative paradigm in the Indian Ocean region – positive.
In 2015, Pakistan set a target of manufacturing 16 JF-17 fighter planes by the end of the year and they did complete the target in the stated time. As of December 2015, Pakistan has manufactures 66 Thunder jets.
India had a strong non-paper opposition to this deal for various valid reasons, say the Indian diplomatic circle.
The speculation that the Chinese could be called for technical assistance of the jets if purchased, is based on the belief that every action of the Chinese has remained dubious to them when Sri Lanka embraced them.
Chinese submarines
Chinese submarines docked in Sri Lanka raised the eyebrows of the Indians when Sri Lanka constantly maintained that they had come for 'refueling' after holding counter piracy activities in the Indian ocean region. The media reported the matter and settled with it. However, India probed on the submarines visiting Sri Lanka for three times during Rajapaksa's rule.
India never gave clear direct answers as to why the Chinese submarines should not visit Sri Lanka. But on 10 January India revealed a piece of shocking news.
US Pacific Fleet Commander, Admiral Scott Swift who was in New Delhi revealed that Chinese submarines 'cannot involve' in anti-piracy operations to begin with.
The Admiral's response to Chinese submarines used for anti-piracy operations cannot be understood, he added. He told the media in New Delhi: "It's hard for me as a maritime commander to understand how can a submarine support anti-piracy operations?"
Admitting that a rising power like China would secure its assets and resources, he noted with concern that the issue was the 'lack of transparency and intent' on the part of China.
The US Admiral met Navy Chief Admiral R. K. Dhowan, and spoke about China's attempts to carve out its own ports in various countries such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Djibouti (Africa). "There is lack of transparency, lack of understanding of the intent," PTI quoted as the Admiral saying.
The Indian diplomatic circle also questioned how Sri Lanka can go for JF-17 which cost nearly US$ 35M each. What is the necessity now? Is it to push Tejas on Sri Lanka?
JF-17 and Tejas to
show off
India's Tejas, the light weight fighter plane LCA which is more technologically advanced and more expensive than JF-17 and the JF-17 will perform at the Bahrain at the international air show next week, 21–23 January.
Two Tejas fighters will fly to Bahrain for the air show from 21 to 23 January. The fighters, along with three pilots, are already at an air base in Gujarat, practising their routine in sea level conditions akin to Bahrain. In mid-January, they will fly to Muscat, and then to Bahrain the Business Standard reports.
The JF-17 has also been more visible internationally. It debuted in 2010 in a static display at the Farnborough Air Show in the UK, and has flown in several air shows, most recently at Paris in July 2015.
Pakistan enjoys having Chinese fighter jets assembled on their soil. Even Premier Navaz Sharif boasted about the Sino-Pakistan trade corridor and explained how the Chinese are helping them become a trade hub. The jets are a symbol of friendship between Pakistan and China the Premiers of both countries said. During Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan, a fleet of eight JF-17 Thunder jets escorted the special plane of the Chinese leader when it entered Pakistan's airspace.
The apparent false start for Pakistan selling Thunder jets continues with rumours that even Malaysia has rejected the offer.
The stiff opposition from India has forced Sri Lanka to drop plans, at least for now, to buy JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft from Pakistan. However, before satisfying the countries around the little island, the need of the hour is to have a new fleet of aircraft, the Defence Ministry said. We need to improve it, it said.
But India says Sri Lanka should not and cannot blindly follow countries that are trying to embrace her because for instance, China 'lacks transparency and intent' and fall prey to anyone because the results will definitely impact the region and undeniably India.
