ISLAMABAD: Iraq has shown strong interest in acquiring Pakistan-made JF-17 Thunder fighter jets and Super Mushshak trainer aircraft during high-level talks between the air force leadership of the two countries.
According to detail, Pakistan Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, NI (M), HJ, met Iraqi Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Staff Pilot Mohanad Ghalib Mohammed Radi Al-Asadi during his official visit to Iraq. The meeting took place at Iraqi Air Force Headquarters, where the PAF chief was presented with a guard of honour, reflecting the cordial relations between the two air forces.
An ISPR statement issued on Saturday said the discussions focused on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, particularly in areas of joint training, capacity enhancement, and operational collaboration.
The Air Chief emphasized the longstanding religious, cultural, and historical bonds between Pakistan and Iraq, reaffirming Pakistan Air Force’s readiness to assist the Iraqi Air Force through training support and capacity-building initiatives.
Both air force chiefs agreed to explore avenues for conducting joint exercises and structured training programmes to enhance mutual interoperability.
The Iraqi Air Force commander lauded the Pakistan Air Force for its high level of professionalism and technological progress. He expressed interest in leveraging PAF’s advanced training systems and showed keen interest in the JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter aircraft and the Super Mushshak basic trainer aircraft. He also acknowledged Pakistan’s positive contribution to regional peace and stability.
The visit highlighted the shared commitment of both air forces to further expand defence cooperation and deepen professional collaboration in the coming years.
