Rafale is not the challenge
Pak's has less 4.5 Gen jets, that's the problem
and, in future, Pak. cannot acquire more, why:
1. 2B $ for 20 J 20 CE
2. 30 to 40 $M for JF 17 Block 3 (which has no significant advantage over Rafale at lower height)
so, with obsolete Mirages and JF17s forming 50 to 60% of the fleet.
Gap due to financial constraints, is too huge to be filled!
think of it like this..
around 300 3rd gen tech jets to be replaced by 100 4.5 gen (argument sake!)
those, 100 4.5 jets will cost 10$B!
which we dont and wont have!
not even considering, force multipliers and 5th gen for now!