Pakistan set for LNG relief after Qatar shipments: Bloomberg
Pakistan is expected to receive deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) after one vessel carrying Qatari fuel passed through the Strait of Hormuz, while another is set to follow, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday. According to Bloomberg’s ship-tracking data, the Al Marrouna transited the waterway earlier this week and is due to reach Pakistan by Thursday. […]
Pakistan's military displayed a military vehicle equipped with a radar system in a promotional video, potentially signifying an expansion in defense ties with China, according to Bloomberg on Tuesday. The six-wheeled vehicle, highlighted around 28 seconds into a video released on the military's official X account, bears a striking resemblance to China's HQ-17A short-range surface-to-air missile platform, as cited by senior analyst Tianran Xu from Open Nuclear Network.
If verified, this acquisition would be China's first known sale of the HQ-17A to Pakistan. The Pakistani military, Pakistan Air Force, and China's Defence Ministry have yet to comment on the matter. China's armed forces confirmed the model in a post on Monday via their official X account. Chinese media outlets, including China Daily, have also confirmed this news.
Analyst Xu stated that the HQ-17A could offer robust defense against cruise missiles, manned aircraft, and other low-altitude targets, and potentially integrate with Chinese command-and-control systems already provided to Pakistan. However, the effectiveness of this system against emerging and rapidly evolving drone threats remains untested in a real battlefield.
The HQ-17A, manufactured by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, was first showcased during China's National Day military parade in 2019. Around 200 HQ-17 and 50 HQ-17A systems are believed to be in operation by the People's Liberation Army, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Serbia and Tajikistan have also acquired the HQ-17AE, an export variant of the HQ-17A, based on data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Defense cooperation between Pakistan and China gained significant attention during the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, where Pakistan reportedly used Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets, claiming they downed several Indian jets, including French-made Rafales. India disputed these claims, and the performance of the J-10C faced close examination following the conflict.
Written by urgent.news from Business Recorder's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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