Islamabad: Bangladesh Air Force Chief Meets Pakistan Counterpart, Aims To Bolster Defence Ties

Islamabad: Bangladesh is now looking to purchase fighter jets from Pakistan. In this regard, Bangladesh Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan met Pakistan Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu in Islamabad. 

What happened in Islamabad? 

He was given a guard of honour, after which the two military leaders discussed and reviewed matters related to defence cooperation. Pakistan and Bangladesh held detailed discussions on the potential purchase of Pakistan's JF-17 Thunder fighter jets by Bangladesh, aimed at strengthening bilateral defence relations. The Pakistani military's media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), provided this information in a statement on Tuesday.

What did the ISPR say?

According to ISPR, Bangladesh Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan met with Pakistan Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu in Islamabad. He was given a guard of honor, after which the two military leaders discussed and reviewed matters related to defense cooperation. 

This aircraft, which is jointly manufactured by China and Pakistan, is a 4.5 generation multi-role fighter aircraft with modern Chinese avionics and high-range weapons integrated into a lightweight airframe.

The statement further said that the meeting focused on strengthening operational cooperation and institutional collaboration, emphasizing cooperation in training, capacity building, and aerospace advancement. Pakistani Air Force Chief Babar Sidhu briefed his Bangladeshi counterpart Hasan Khan on the recent upgrades to the JF-17 Block III and reiterated the Pakistan Air Force's commitment to supporting the Bangladesh Air Force through a comprehensive training framework, from basic to advanced flying and specialized courses.

The statement added that the Bangladeshi Air Force Chief appreciated the Pakistan Air Force's combat record and expressed his desire to benefit from its operational expertise. He sought assistance in maintenance support for the Bangladesh Air Force's aging fleet and in the integration of air defense radar systems to enhance air surveillance. According to the military media wing, the Bangladeshi delegation visited key facilities of the Pakistan Air Force, including the National ISR and Integrated Air Operations Center, the Pakistan Air Force Cyber Command, and the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park.