Pakistan Ranks 10TH Among Largest Importers Of Arms Globally While People Continue To Suffer

Pakistan Arms

International deliveries of arms were flat in the period 2016-2020, ending more than a decade of increases. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said in a report on Monday.

Pakistan was among the biggest importers of major arms in Asia and Oceania from 2016-2020 while globally it ranked 10th. It accounts for 2.7% of major arms imports.

Image: AFP

The United States, France, and Germany are three of the world’s biggest exporters. They increased deliveries, but falls in exports from Russian and China offset the rise, SIPRI said.

It was the first time since 2001–2005 that the volume of deliveries of major arms between countries – an indicator of demand – did not increase from the previous five year period, SIPRI said.

Arms race & COVID-19

While the pandemic has shut down economies across the world and pushed many countries into deep recessions. SIPRI said it was too early to tell whether the slowdown in arms deliveries was likely to continue.

“The economic impact of the COVID-19 could see some countries reassessing their arms imports in the coming years,” said Pieter Wezeman. He is a senior researcher with the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme, said in a statement.

Image: Reuters

“However, even at the height of the pandemic in 2020, several countries signed large contracts for major arms.”

The United Arab Emirates, for example, recently signed an agreement with the US. It wants to purchase 50 F-35 jets and up to 18 armed drones as part of a $23 billion package.

Middle Eastern countries accounted for the biggest increase in arms imports, up 25% in 2016–20 from 2011–15.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest arms importer, increased its arms imports by 61% and Qatar by 361%.

Image: AFP

Asia and Oceania were the largest importing regions for major arms, receiving 42% of global arms transfers in 2016–20. India, Australia, China, South Korea and Pakistan were the biggest importers in the region.

“For many states in Asia and Oceania, a growing perception of China as a threat is the main driver for arms imports,” said Siemon Wezeman, another senior researcher at SIPRI.

SIPRI ranked Pakistan as the 11th largest major arms importer in the world, just last year. We wonder what these arms will do for the country when the people continue to suffer from poverty, lawlessness, and rising corruption.

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