Recent reports suggest that French defence companies are finding alternative ways to engage in military contracts with Pakistan, despite France’s official stance on arms exports to the country. These firms are allegedly leveraging their subsidiaries or shareholders based outside France to facilitate such deals.
Pakistan’s naval capabilities are set to receive a significant boost with the acquisition of French-origin technology. The PNS Hunain and PNS Yamama will both be equipped with the MBDA Albatros NG surface-to-air defence system, along with Thales NS110 surveillance radars. These advanced systems will enhance the Pakistani Navy’s defence and surveillance capacities.
Adding to these developments, recent claims indicate that the French Defence Attaché to Pakistan has visited Daudsons Armoury, a Pakistani defence firm. Daudsons Armoury has recently entered the domain of drone warfare by arming drones with mini-rockets, signaling a shift towards advanced weaponization.
Furthermore, French companies are reportedly in contact with other Pakistani defence firms, including the Karachi-based Alsons Group, which specializes in precision engineering and defence manufacturing.
France maintains a policy of not permitting the export of its military equipment directly to Pakistan. This restriction is further complicated by France’s strong defence partnership with India, which opposes any military collaboration between France and Pakistan. However, to circumvent these limitations, French defence companies are utilizing their extended networks outside France to supply military technology to Pakistan.
Given the current trajectory, reports suggest that additional defence agreements between French and Pakistani companies could be on the horizon. If these deals materialize, they may redefine the military relationship between the two countries, despite the official restrictions imposed by the French government.
The evolving nature of these covert defence dealings raises questions about the broader implications for regional security and diplomatic relations in the Indian subcontinent.
