Munir’s Asia Push: Pakistan Markets Chinese Arms, Seeks Defence Deals After India Conflict | Exclusive

Last Updated:July 16, 2025, 11:52 IST

General Asim Munir is preparing for a major tour of China, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia to forge long-term military cooperation and align Pakistan with like-minded nations

General Asim Munir’s upcoming trip marks a continued push into South and Southeast Asia. (AFP)

Pakistan, on the back foot after its recent conflict with India in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, is aggressively pursuing military diplomacy to bolster its strategic partnerships, diversify defence alliances, and reposition itself as a regional defence player.

Leading this unprecedented effort is Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Field Marshal, General Asim Munir, who is now preparing for a major tour of China, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia later this month.

Following a string of high-level visits to the United States, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, Iran, and Azerbaijan, Munir’s upcoming trip marks a continued push into South and Southeast Asia. According to top military sources in Rawalpindi, these visits are not routine diplomacy—they are calibrated moves aimed at forging long-term military cooperation, securing defence deals, and aligning Pakistan with like-minded nations in a shifting regional security landscape.

Munir is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka from July 20-22 and Indonesia from July 24-26. Sources suggest a confidential stop-over in China may take place between the two visits or in early August. The Chinese leg of the tour is being kept under wraps due to the sensitive nature of discussions, which reportedly center around intelligence-sharing, defence procurement, and regional power balance in the Indo-Pacific.

This broader diplomatic initiative follows the border conflict with India, which significantly raised tensions and put regional security cooperation under renewed scrutiny. Pakistan has since reoriented its foreign military policy to deepen strategic ties and project a narrative of military strength, particularly to the Global South.

Promoting Defence Exports

A key component of Pakistan’s outreach involves the marketing of Chinese and Turkish defence technology, with Islamabad positioning itself as a facilitator and regional hub for arms sales. According to insiders, Pakistan’s military leadership is actively promoting JF-17 Thunder jets—jointly produced with China—and Turkish Bayraktar drones, especially after their reported effectiveness during the India conflict.

Munir and his delegation are expected to pitch these platforms to countries like Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Iran, highlighting both performance and affordability. This strategy ties into Pakistan’s broader aim of playing a more central role in defence procurement for the Global South.

Earlier this year, defence ministers from Türkiye and Indonesia visited Islamabad, engaging in high-level talks on military training, joint production, and regional security coordination. These reciprocal visits underscore growing interest in defence collaboration and reflect a shared interest in counterbalancing larger regional powers.

Geostrategic Realignment & Regional Messaging

Sources close to Pakistan’s General Headquarters (GHQ) describe this flurry of diplomatic activity as part of a long-term vision to “reshape Pakistan’s military partnerships" amid changing regional dynamics.

Munir has reportedly briefed top military forums that his recent trips to Washington, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Ankara, Baku, and Tehran were “highly successful diplomatic manoeuvres," establishing a robust network of defence cooperation across multiple theatres.

With these ongoing and upcoming visits, Pakistan is signalling its ambition to move beyond traditional security alignments, seeking newer alliances and shared defence initiatives amid evolving global fault lines, particularly in Asia and the Middle East.

Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location :

Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published:

News world Munir’s Asia Push: Pakistan Markets Chinese Arms, Seeks Defence Deals After India Conflict | Exclusive