Type 56 is NOT a CQB weapon. Anyone who thinks a full sized AK platform rifle is an SMG or a dedicated CQB platform doesn’t know the first thing about firearms. They are only considered as such here out of necessity and a lack of other options.
Most modern militaries don’t even consider an M4A1 a CQB platform and here we are calling a full fledged assault rifle that’s over 100MM longer than an M4A1 a CQB weapon.
It’s much more usable for CQB than a G3 of course, and its induction (or rather of the original Type 56-Is) was started in a hurry when the PA realized that their then standard SMG (MP-5), did not have the penetration or stopping power to take down a terrorist high on six different kinds of drugs (the western solution for that was higher power rounds for PDWs and Modern SMGs like the 5.7MM), however the military has doubled down on it and continued to purchase it much after the WoT, in fact there have been no more G3s purchased in several years now, yet thousands of Type 56s and other AKs keep coming in (the number of Type 56 and AK variants outnumber G3s in the PA at the moment), specifically to replace the G3, everyone on the LOC as well as the western border has been using Type 56s for several years now, most sentries in all cantonments carry Type 56s as well, if you can’t see it in person, just look at pictures or documentaries. Even the standard training firearm is now a Type 56. PA has purchased several thousand optics, rails and other attachments and upgrades for both its new Type 56-IIs as well as modernizing many of its older AKs. Yet nothing as such for the G3.
The G3 is in no shape or form better than the Type 56-II in conventional warfare in the hands of our troops. Most of them are not built for it. Every military in the world has adopted smaller calibers, our terrain and circumstances are not unique enough to not do the same, the only reason is a lack of money and incompetence.
The most distance an average soldier can effectively engage at without magnified optics will be 300M (and this is at the standards of the US, UK and Canadian armed forces, I don’t know what the PA standards are, but let’s assume they are slightly lower), this is also the effective range of both the Type 56-II and the G3 (the G3s is definitely a bit higher, but you’re not hitting anything there without a magnified optic).
However in an actual combat scenario, accuracy beyond 150M is going to be average at best, regardless of the rifle, and within these ranges (300M and below), the Type 56-II is more accurate (due to significantly smaller size and weight, better ergonomics and significantly less recoil) and hence more deadly than the G3. A level 3 armored plate will stop both rounds just the same, and will penetrate level 3A just the same, so penetration is not a factor (unless cover is involved) actually hitting the enemy definitely is, something that is significantly easier to do with a Type 56 than a G3 (for most soldiers).
The G3 is outdated, maybe PA still has some specific roles for it marked out, but I wish they didn’t. It needs to be replaced, it will get soldiers killed.