ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed BabarSidhu held significant meetings with top Saudi defence officials in Riyadh,where both sides expressed strong commitment to expanding bilateralmilitary cooperation. The Inter-Services Public Relations highlighted thatSaudi leadership particularly appreciated Pakistan’s constructivecontributions toward regional peace and stability, setting the stage forpotentially transformative defence agreements between the two longstandingallies.
The visit assumed added importance as discussions reportedly progressed onconverting approximately two billion dollars of existing Saudi loans into amajor purchase of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets. This development, iffinalized, would represent one of the largest defence acquisitionsinvolving Pakistan’s indigenous combat aircraft platform and furthersolidify economic-strategic interdependence between Islamabad and Riyadh.
During the high-profile engagements, Air Chief Marshal Sidhu called onRoyal Saudi Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Turki bin Bander binAbdulaziz and Chief of General Staff General Fayiadh bin Hameed Al-Rowaily.According to the official statement, the meetings focused extensively onbilateral defence cooperation, the evolving regional security environment,and identification of new avenues for joint collaboration in multipledomains.
Saudi defence authorities conveyed high praise for the professionalism,operational excellence, and combat readiness demonstrated by the PakistanAir Force in various theatres. They specifically expressed keen interest indeepening joint training programs and operational collaboration, withparticular emphasis on emerging multi-domain operations that integrate air,space, cyber, electronic warfare and artificial intelligence capabilities.
Both delegations reviewed the existing framework of cooperation withevident satisfaction and agreed to intensify engagement through regularbilateral and multilateral exercises, professional exchanges, andtechnology sharing initiatives. The Pakistan-KSA Defence Agreement wasrepeatedly described as a powerful symbol of mutual trust and the enduringbrotherly relations that have characterized ties between the two nationsfor decades.
Air Chief Marshal Sidhu emphasized the historic and fraternal bonds betweenPakistan and Saudi Arabia while reaffirming his dedication to continuouslystrengthening military-to-military relations. He also took the opportunityto brief his Saudi counterparts on the ongoing transformation of thePakistan Air Force into a truly multi-domain force capable of addressingcontemporary and future security challenges through integrated advancedtechnologies.
The timing of these high-level discussions carries particular significancegiven recent media reports about concrete negotiations regarding the JF-17platform. Reliable sources indicated that talks between the two countrieshave concentrated primarily on supplying JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, alightweight multi-role combat aircraft jointly developed by PakistanAeronautical Complex and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation.
According to international news agency Reuters, the potential transactioncould involve converting two billion dollars of Saudi loans into paymentfor the aircraft, while an additional two billion dollars might beallocated for associated equipment, spares, training, and logisticalsupport packages. If concluded, the total deal value would reachapproximately four billion dollars, marking a substantial boost forPakistan’s defence exports.
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The reported discussions follow the signing of a comprehensive mutualdefence pact between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last year, which alreadylaid the groundwork for enhanced security cooperation across variousdomains. Analysts view the possible JF-17 acquisition as a naturalextension of this strategic framework, potentially opening doors forfurther technology transfer, joint production considerations, and increasedinteroperability between the two air forces.
The Pakistan Air Force has positioned the JF-17 Thunder as acost-effective, modern solution for nations seeking to modernize their aircombat capabilities without excessive financial burden. The Block IIIvariant currently in production incorporates advanced avionics, activeelectronically scanned array radar, enhanced electronic warfare suite, andintegration of precision-guided munitions, making it attractive to severalregional air forces.
This high-profile visit and concurrent economic-defence negotiationsreflect the broader trajectory of Pakistan-Saudi relations, which continueto evolve beyond traditional religious and cultural affinities into amature strategic partnership addressing contemporary geopolitical andeconomic realities. Observers anticipate that successful conclusion of thereported jet deal could serve as a catalyst for additional collaborativeprojects in aviation, defence manufacturing, and regional securitycoordination.
Source: https://www.dawn.com
Tags: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Air Force, JF-17 Thunder, defencecooperation
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