ISLAMABAD (MNN); The commander of the Iraqi Air Force has shown strong interest in acquiring JF-17 Thunder fighter jets and praised the professionalism of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) during a meeting with Pakistan’s air chief, according to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday.
PAF Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, who is currently on an official visit to Iraq, called on Iraqi Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Staff Pilot Mohanad Ghalib Mohammed Radi Al-Asadi at the Iraqi Air Force headquarters. Upon arrival, the Pakistani air chief was presented with a guard of honour.
ISPR said discussions focused on strengthening bilateral military cooperation, particularly in the areas of joint training, capacity building and enhanced operational collaboration.
During the meeting, ACM Sidhu highlighted the deep-rooted religious, cultural and historical relations between Pakistan and Iraq and reaffirmed PAF’s commitment to supporting the Iraqi Air Force through training and capacity development initiatives.
Both sides agreed to pursue joint exercises and training programmes to improve interoperability between the two air forces.
The Iraqi air chief commended the Pakistan Air Force for its high level of professionalism and technological progress. He also expressed interest in benefiting from PAF’s world-class training systems and showed keen interest in the JF-17 Thunder fighter jets as well as the Super Mushshak trainer aircraft.
The Iraqi commander appreciated Pakistan’s role in promoting regional stability. ISPR stated that the visit reflected the shared commitment of both air forces to further deepen defence cooperation and professional collaboration.
The JF-17 Thunder aircraft is jointly developed by Pakistan and China. Earlier this week, Bangladesh also expressed interest in the potential procurement of JF-17 fighter jets. Meanwhile, reports suggest Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are holding discussions to convert around two billion dollars of Saudi loans into a JF-17 fighter jet deal, further strengthening defence ties following the mutual defence agreement signed last year.
