China delivers 2 more navy frigates to Pakistan

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – China on Wednesday delivered last two of total four navy frigates to Pakistan, state media reported.

According to Chinese daily Global Times, China delivered two Type 054A/P frigates to the Pakistan Navy in Shanghai.

“This means all four warships of this class have been commissioned into the Pakistan Navy,” said the report.

Islamabad signed a contract with the China Shipbuilding Trading Company Ltd. (CSTC) for the delivery of two Type-054 A/P frigates in 2017. A deal for two more ships was signed in June 2018.

Beijing has long been an economic and defense partner to Islamabad.

Pakistan sealed a $5 billion deal with China in 2016 for the acquisition of eight Chinese Yuan-class type-041 diesel submarines by 2028 to "address force imbalance" with its archrival India.

The allies are also pursuing over $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship project in Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.​​​​​​​