Pakistan’s entire missile program has either been copied or directly procured from China.
Ghaznavi
The DF-11 is a Chinese short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) with a range of up to 600 km. The DF-11 serves as the basis for Pakistan’s Ghaznavi missiles, which were developed with significant technical assistance from China.
Shaheen 1
This missile has a range of 750 km and is based on China’s M-9 or DF-15. It is a solid-fueled missile that Pakistan developed by copying the DF-15, with technical assistance from China.
Shaheen 1A
An extended-range variant of the Shaheen 1, it has an estimated range of 900 km. The Shaheen-1A is a variant of the DF-15A.
Shaheen-2
A medium-range ballistic missile, capable of carrying a payload of up to 700 kg to a range of 1,500–2,000 km, it is based on the M-18 missile developed by China.
Shaheen-3
This medium-range ballistic missile is claimed by Pakistan to be capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional payloads to a range of 2,750 km. It is road-mobile and mounted on a Chinese-made transporter erector launcher.
In September 2023, the U.S. imposed sanctions on several Chinese companies and a Chinese national for their role in Pakistan’s ballistic missile program. The sanctions targeted the Beijing Research Institute of Automation for Machine Building Industry (RIAMB), which helped Pakistan acquire equipment for testing the Shaheen-3’s rocket motors. The U.S. also sanctioned three Chinese companies for transferring equipment and technology to Pakistan’s Innovative Equipment.
It would not be wrong to say that Pakistan is being used by China to test its own missiles, which could later be used against Taiwan. This also shields China from direct international scrutiny.
