Pakistan recently denied signing any deal for China’s J-35 stealth fighters, dismissing earlier reports as mere “media chatter,” according to Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. Despite Chinese offers and apparent interest—like training pilots for the jets and talk of acquiring up to 40 aircraft—there’s been no formal agreement, and Islamabad says it lacks the funds to proceed news.abplive.com+13theprint.in+13economictimes.indiatimes.com+13.

This backtrack comes amid Pakistan’s juggling act between strengthening defense ties with China and maintaining good relations with the U.S., which it’s currently courting for economic support. The uncertainty also reflects Pakistan’s broader financial constraints—while military spending is rising, the country remains heavily reliant on IMF loans and easy terms from Beijing .