An Indian newspaper, Times of India, on Saturday said that China has begun arming its two neighbours, Pakistan and Bangladesh, with submarines. China has also introduced new nuclear submarines that have caused a flutter in Washington, the paper said.
Jane’s weekly, quoting a senior Pakistani official, said China is set to sell up to six submarines to Pakistan by the end of 2014. China has also signed an agreement with Pakistan to sell two Type-035G ming-class diesel-electric submarines to Bangladesh, reports from Dhaka said recently. The New Age newspaper said the deal was valued at $206 million. China has promised to deliver the submarines to Bangladesh Navy by 2019.
“Technical details are almost done. The present discussions are mainly about the financing details,” a senior Pakistan official told Jane’s. The journal said a second Pakistani official confirmed that “the contract is at an advanced stage and discussions won’t linger on for too long. Realistically, we should have a deal by the end 2014”.
Islamabad is expected to buy China’s S20 or Yuan-class diesel-electric submarine (SSK). At present, Pakistan Navy operates five French submarines; three Agosta 90B (Khalid-class) submarines purchased in the 1990s and two ageing Agosta 70 (Hashmat-class) boats dating from the late 1970s.
Myanmar is also using Chinese experts to train its submarine personnel. It also sent a contingent of its navy personnel for submarine warfare training in Pakistan in mid-2013, the Times of India claimed.