Pakistan among largest importers of arms in the Asia-Pacific region, says Report

A report published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) said on Monday that Pakistan was among the biggest importers of major arms in Asia and Oceania from 2016-2020.

According to the SIPRI report, the international arms trade did not show any growth between 2016 and 2020. The United States, France and Germany increased arms exports, while Russia and China reduced international sales.

The report said that India, Australia, China, South Korea and Pakistan have been the largest importers of arms in the Asia-Pacific region.

China which was the world’s fifth-largest exporter of heavy weapons between 2016 and 2017, saw its exports fall 7.8 percent between 2011-2016 and 2016-17.

China accounted for 5.2% of total arms exports in 2016-20, with Pakistan, Bangladesh and Algeria being the largest arms buyers from China.

Simon Weizmann, a senior researcher SIPRI, said the growing perception of China as a threat to most countries in Asia and the Pacific is the biggest driver of arms exports.