Pakistan - Formidable arms race

The data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) about global arms purchases has put Pakistan at number 10 on the list of top global arms importers. India remains the largest arms importer over a period of five years. However, on an annual basis, India ceded its top spot to Saudi Arabia in 2015. The fact that Pakistan is the 10th largest arms importer in the world is not an issue to take pride in. Rather, the relentless subcontinental competition for arms has entered an unusually perilous phase. Pakistan spent $ 735 million on the import of arms, while India imported arms worth $ 3,078 million in 2015. Big powers like the US, China and Russia are fuelling this arms race by providing arsenal to ambitious states to defend their borders from aggression by other countries as well as to fight the growing threat of militancy that is becoming a global phenomenon.

It is cause for concern that the global transfer of major arms has risen in recent years. The overall transfer of arms has gone upwards this century after a relative drop in the previous 20 years. There are certain factors that have given birth to a rise in the purchases of sophisticated weapons at the international level. The presence of various terror groups in various parts of the world has made it necessary for victim states to have stockpiles of weapons to deal with the militants who pose a risk to their stability. Instead of focusing on the accumulation of arms alone, it is also necessary for arms importers to review those policies that gave birth to these terror organisations. More efforts should be made to promote regional cooperation instead of making investments in militants and using them as strategic assets. It is also disappointing that super powers like the US, Russia and China are the largest exporters of weapons. Though these countries talk about peace in the world and urge rival states like India and Pakistan to resolve all conflicts through a meaningful dialogue process, yet they are also fuelling the arms race in South Asia and the Middle East.

Arms build-up by various states is hardly necessary in a world that badly needs peace. Instead of getting involved in the arms race and making irrational increases in defence budgets, rival states should spend money ion those social sectors that need their immediate attention. It is also necessary for Pakistan and India to, instead of escalating tensions and increasing military expenditure, should work for the establishment of lasting peace.