Pakistan Air Force Chief Enhances Defence Ties During US Visit

In a significant development aimed at strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu undertook an official visit to the United States of America.

The visit marks the first by a serving PAF chief in over a decade and serves as a strategic milestone in Pakistan-US defence relations, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

The high-profile visit, which concluded successfully, proved instrumental in deepening institutional ties, while addressing key regional and global security issues, it added.

During the course of his visit, Air Chief Marshal Sidhu engaged in a series of high-level meetings with senior US military and political leadership, focusing on advancing military cooperation, enhancing interoperability, and exploring avenues for joint training and technology exchange, the ISPR said.

At the Pentagon, Air Chief Marshal Sidhu met with Secretary of the Air Force (International Affairs) Kelli L Seybolt and US Air Force Chief of Staff General David W Allvin.

During these discussions, the chief of the air staff emphasised the historic and multifaceted relationship between Pakistan and the US, particularly in the realms of defence and security cooperation, the statement said.

The talks centered on advancing bilateral military cooperation, enhancing interoperability between the two air forces, and exploring opportunities for joint training programs and technology exchange.

The air chief reaffirmed his commitment to further enhancing military-to-military cooperation between the two nations, highlighting the importance of continued high-level military engagements.

Both sides agreed to continue senior-level interactions to maintain momentum in their ongoing collaborative efforts, particularly in joint training, operational exercises, and military exchange programmes, the ISPR said.

In addition to meetings at the Pentagon, the air chief visited the US State Department, where he met with Brown L Stanley from the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and Eric Meyer from the Bureau of South & Central Asian Affairs.

These discussions underscored Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional stability, its firm commitment to counterterrorism efforts, and its nuanced perspective on the evolving geopolitical dynamics of South and Central Asia, the statement added.

Further engagements took place on Capitol Hill, where Air Chief Marshal Sidhu held substantive dialogues with prominent members of the US Congress, including Mike Turner, Rich McCormick, and Bill Huizenga.

These interactions provided an important platform to reinforce the significance of robust bilateral relations, share Pakistan’s views on strategic challenges, and address the impact of emerging technologies on defence cooperation, the ISPR said.

Throughout his visit, the air chief stressed Pakistan’s status as a peace-loving nation. He reaffirmed the country’s enduring sacrifices and notable operational achievements in the global war on terror.

The air chief also highlighted Pakistan’s evolving security calculus in response to the rapidly shifting regional geopolitical landscape, stressing Pakistan’s role in regional and global peacekeeping efforts, it added.

The landmark visit not only reaffirmed the PAF’s commitment to promoting regional and global peace but also laid the groundwork for renewed institutional collaboration, strategic dialogue, and enhanced interoperability between the PAF and the US Air Force, the statement concluded.