Iraqi commander praises PAF’s technological advancement, seeks to benefit from Pakistan’s training facilities
Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu visited Iraq on Saturday, where he visited General Staff Pilot Lieutenant Mohanad Ghalib Mohammed Radi Al-Asadi.
Iraq has expressed interest in acquiring JF-17 Thunder fighter jets and Super Mushshak trainer aircraft from Pakistan during a meeting between air force commanders of both countries.
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu visited Iraq on Saturday, where he visited Air Staff Pilot Lieutenant Mohanad Ghalib Mohammed Radi Al-Asadi, commander of the Iraqi Air Force, at the Iraqi Air Force Headquarters in Baghdad.
Al-Asadi praised the professionalism and technological advancement of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), expressing interest in the JF-17 Thunder fighter jets and the Super Mushshak training aircraft, which is a Pakistani-made basic trainer used for pilot training.
Read: Bangladesh in talks to buy JF-17 fighter jets from Pakistan
He also showed enthusiasm to benefit from Pakistan’s world-class training facilities.
The Iraqi commander appreciated Pakistan’s role in promoting regional stability and expressed his eagerness to deepen defense cooperation between the two countries.
Air Chief Marshal Sidhu was granted a Guard of Honor upon his arrival, symbolizing the strong bond of respect between the two nations.
Discussions between the two commanders focused on enhancing bilateral military cooperation, with special emphasis on joint training programs, capability development initiatives and enhancing operational cooperation.
The Pakistani Air Chief highlighted the deep-rooted religious, cultural and historical ties between Pakistan and Iraq, reaffirming the PAF’s commitment to supporting the Iraqi Air Force in training and capability development.
Both commanders agreed to conduct joint exercises and training initiatives aimed at strengthening interoperability between the two air forces. The visit underlined the shared determination of both air forces to further strengthen defense ties and enhance professional collaboration.
Read more: Pakistan and Libya close multi-million dollar arms deal
The JF-17 Thunder, jointly developed by Pakistan and China, has become a key export success for Pakistan’s defense industry. After reports that the PAF shot down several Indian fighter jets, including French-made Rafale jets, during the May 2025 conflict, international interest in Pakistan’s operational assets increased.
This caused the share prices of China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC), which manufactures the plane, to rise more than 17%.
On January 6, a high-level delegation of the Bangladesh Air Force, led by Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, also held talks with Sidhu, covering the possible acquisition of the JF-17.
In December 2025, Libya and Pakistan also reached a major multibillion-dollar conventional arms export deal, described as one of the largest arms sales in Pakistan’s history, which included 16 JF-17 and 12 Super Mushshak training aircraft.
