Overview
- PAF Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu met Iraqi Air Force Commander Lt Gen Mohanad Ghalib Mohammed Radi Al-Asadi during an official visit and received a guard of honour at Iraqi Air Force Headquarters.
- According to an ISPR statement, the Iraqi commander praised the PAF’s professionalism and technological progress and voiced keen interest in JF-17 fighters and Super Mushshak trainers.
- Both sides agreed to pursue joint training, capacity building and interoperability initiatives, with the PAF reaffirming support for Iraqi training and professional development.
- The engagement follows talks in Islamabad earlier this week where Bangladesh’s air chief held detailed discussions on potential procurement of JF-17 aircraft.
- Separately, Bloomberg reports that Turkiye is in advanced discussions to join the Pakistan–Saudi Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, a developing item that could reshape the regional context if confirmed.