Islamabad:
Days after the Army Chief’s unprecedented visit to Washington, air manager Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, chief of the air staff, made an official visit to the United States in yet another significant development aimed at strengthening bilateral defense cooperation and promoting mutual interests.
This was the first visit of a server PAF chief for over a decade, indicating that the increased military commitments between Pakistan and the United States.
“The high-profile visit marked a strategic milestone in Pakistan-US defense cooperation and proved to be instrumental in elaborating on institutional ties in addition to tackling the most important regional and global security issues,” reads a statement here Tuesday of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
There has been renewed interest in Pakistan after it caused the major military losses to India in May during the four-day military conflict. Pakistan Air Force’s spectacular success against the Indian Air Force night until May 6 and 7 surprised many, especially the Western countries, surprised.
According to ISPR, the head of the air staff during the visit had a number of high -level meetings with senior US military and political leadership. At the Pentagon he urged Mrs. Kelli L. Seybolt, secretary of the Air Force (International Affairs), and General David W. Allvin, chief of staff for the US Air Force. During the meetings, the discussions were centered on promoting bilateral military cooperation, improving interoperability and exploring opportunities for common education and technology exchange.
Chief for the air staff highlighted the historic and multifaceted relationship between Pakistan and the United States, especially in the defense domains and security cooperation. He repeated his decision to further improve the existing ties in the area of military-to-military cooperation and training between the two countries air forces.
The two sides also agreed on the continuation of high -level military engagements in the future through interaction at senior level. “These interactions are considered crucial to maintain momentum in the ongoing cooperative efforts in joint training, operational exercises and military exchange programs between the two nations,” it said.
At the US Department of State, Air Chief met with Mr. Brown L. Stanley from Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and Mr. Eric Meyer from Bureau of South & Central Asian Affairs.
The meetings served as a forum to emphasize Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional stability, its permanent obligation to combat the fight against terrorism and its nuanced perspective on developing geopolitical dynamics in South and Central Asia. As part of his engagements at Capitol Hill, the head of the aerial staff held material dialogues with prominent members of the US Congress, including Mr. Mike Turner, Rich McCormick and Mr Bill Huizenga.
These interactions strengthened the importance of robust commitment to strengthening bilateral connections and provided a valuable opportunity to share Pakistan’s views on strategic challenges, regional security frameworks and the impact of new technologies on defense cooperation.
The air manager emphasized Pakistan’s status as a peace -loving nation and confirmed the country’s sustained victims and remarkable operational results in the Global War against Terror, while also outlining Pakistan’s evolving security calculation in response to the rapidly changing regional geopolitical landscape.
“The landmark visit not only confirmed Pakistan Air Force’s obligation to promote regional and global peace, but also laid the basis for renewed institutional cooperation, strategic dialogue and improved interoperability between Pakistan Air Force and the United States Air Force,” ISPR said.
Meanwhile, the South African Air Force’s chief wise Wiseman Simo Mbambo called for the Head of Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu in the air headquarters, Islamabad.
After his arrival, a smart reversed quota of Pakistan Air Force Guard of Honor for Lieutenant General Wiseman Simo Mbambo, a release issued by ISPR.
During the meeting, the head of the air staff emphasized the shared values and hopes that form the basis of the deeply rooted friendship between Pakistan and South Africa.
Air Chief repeated PAF’s obligation to strengthen air fighting functions in the South African Air Force through tailor-made training and capacity building initiatives.
Lieutenant-General Wiseman Mbambo praised PAF’s robust operational emergency preparedness, its warfare functions with multiple domains and its success in maintaining a credible deterrence position.
Recognizing the shared values and interests between the two air forces, the South African air manager formulated a strong desire to further strengthen and institutionalize the formal relationship between the South African Air Force and the PAF.
One of the central themes of the discussions was the renewal of the South African Air Force’s training regime. In this context, Lieutenant General Mbambo Pakistan Air Force’s support for developing a modern and comprehensive training framework beginning at the academic level.
The visitor also expressed his serious desire for the participation of the South African Air Force officers as observers in PAF’s greatest operational exercises.
Recognizing the technical expertise and cost-effective maintenance functions offered by PAF’s engineering infrastructure, he also conveyed the South African Air Force’s intention to carry out the inspection and maintenance of his C-130 fleet in Pakistan.
