Pakistan’s air chief met Saudi Arabia’s top air force commander this week to discuss ways to expand military cooperation between the two longtime allies, the Pakistan military said.
Pakistan Air Force Chief
Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu visited Saudi Arabia, where he held talks with Royal Saudi Air Force Commander Turki bin Bander bin Abdulaziz and Chief of the General Staff Fayiadh bin Hameed Al-Rowaily.
The discussions focused on bilateral cooperation, regional security issues and future defence collaboration, according to a military statement.
Saudi defence officials praised the close ties between the two countries and highlighted the longstanding cooperation between their air forces.
Saudi military leaders also expressed interest in drawing on the Pakistan Air Force’s operational experience, particularly through increased joint training and closer operational coordination. They acknowledged Pakistan’s role in promoting peace and stability in the region, the statement said.
Both sides said they were satisfied with the current level of cooperation and agreed to step up engagement through joint exercises, operational coordination and exchanges of professional expertise.
Sidhu described relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as historic and time-tested, rooted in shared religious values, mutual respect and strategic interests. He said Pakistan was committed to further strengthening military-to-military ties through both bilateral and multilateral exercises.
The statement said the visit reflected the depth of the strategic partnership between the two countries and their shared commitment to strengthening cooperation in the defence and aviation sectors.
Officials also referred to the defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as a sign of mutual trust and strategic alignment. In September, the two countries signed a strategic mutual defence agreement under which an attack on either country would be treated as an attack on both.
Both sides agreed to explore new areas for deeper defence cooperation, the statement added.
