On 20 May, a Pakistan Air Force training aircraft went down, followed by another crash of the JF-17 near Kamra. Both incidents were quickly shrouded in official silence and state-sponsored cover-ups, with Chinese and Pakistani authorities deliberately omitting details of the aircraft involved.
Videos and eyewitness accounts, however, confirmed the identity of the jets, exposing the pattern of concealment that has become routine whenever Chinese-designed aircraft fail in service.
The Chinese state media, particularly Xinhua, has consistently avoided naming the models of aircraft involved in such accidents. In the latest case, the JL-8 trainer crash was reported without reference to its Chinese origin.
Similarly, the JF-17 crash near Kamra was downplayed, despite occurring close to the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex where the jet is produced. This deliberate obfuscation is widely seen as an attempt to protect the export prospects of these aircraft, especially to countries like Bangladesh, where negotiations for their purchase are ongoing.
China and Pakistan have invested heavily in propaganda campaigns to market the JF-17 as a “battle-tested” platform. During India’s Operation Sindoor, both governments sought to portray the aircraft as having performed successfully against Indian Air Force assets.
French intelligence later revealed that Chinese embassies were actively spreading disinformation to undermine confidence in French-made Rafale jets. Yet, the reality on the ground was starkly different.
Indian precision strikes using BrahMos cruise missiles and drones penetrated Pakistani defences, destroying nine military bases and terror camps. Chinese-made air defence systems failed to intercept these attacks, underscoring the limitations of the technology.
Every crash of a Chinese jet in Pakistan has been followed by hollow promises of inquiry and a refusal to disclose technical details. Pakistan has effectively become a showcase for sub-standard Chinese weaponry, with its air force bearing the brunt of repeated failures.
This pattern of deception poses a serious warning for Bangladesh, which is now being courted aggressively by both Beijing and Islamabad to purchase the JF-17.
Bangladesh itself has suffered from the shortcomings of Chinese aircraft. In July last year, an F-7 trainer crashed into Milestone School and College in Dhaka, killing more than 20 students and injuring hundreds. Xinhua’s coverage of the tragedy focused on casualties but carefully avoided mentioning that the aircraft was Chinese-made.
Despite such incidents, Bangladesh has remained a major buyer of Chinese military equipment, often at great cost to safety and reliability.
The timing of these developments is significant. Bangladesh’s new prime minister, Tarique Rahman, is scheduled to visit China in June, with speculation rife that a JF-17 deal may be finalised during the trip.
The Chinese ambassador in Dhaka, Yao Wen, has reportedly secured support from Bangladesh’s military leadership to back the purchase. Yet, retired Bangladesh Air Force officers have voiced strong reservations.
They argue that if India is the primary threat, then reliance on Pakistani-Chinese aircraft is misguided. Pakistan’s inability to counter Indian beyond-visual-range strikes during Operation Sindoor demonstrates that these platforms are inadequate against modern adversaries.
Critics also point to the political economy of defence procurement in Bangladesh. Costly acquisitions are often driven not by strategic necessity but by promises of personal gain for decision-makers. The interim regime’s purchase of Boeing passenger jets is cited as an example of such questionable deals. The proposed JF-17 purchase risks repeating this pattern, diverting scarce resources away from urgent domestic needs.
Bangladesh is currently grappling with severe socio-economic challenges. Millions have been pushed into poverty, and the country is facing its deadliest measles outbreak in decades, with over 500 lives lost due to vaccine shortages.
In this context, the allocation of vast sums for unreliable fighter jets raises pressing questions about priorities. The nation deserves clarity on whether such defence spending is justified when public health and welfare demand immediate attention.
The unfolding events in Pakistan serve as a cautionary tale for Bangladesh. The persistent refusal of China and Pakistan to acknowledge the flaws in their aircraft underscores the dangers of reliance on these platforms.
For Dhaka, the decision to purchase JF-17 jets could jeopardise not only the operational effectiveness of its air force but also the broader national interest.
Agencies
