Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu. Photo: YouTube
RAWALPINDI:
Iraq has expressed keen interest in acquiring Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder fighter jet as top air force commanders of both countries held talks in Baghdad, underlining growing defense cooperation and Islamabad’s rising profile as a supplier of combat aviation platforms.
The interest was conveyed during a meeting between the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, and the Commander of the Iraqi Air Force, Air Staff Pilot Lieutenant General Mohanad Ghalib Mohammed Radi Al-Asadi, according to an official statement issued on Saturday.
The Iraqi air chief praised the professionalism, technological advancement and operational standards of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), while noting his desire to benefit from the PAF’s combat aircraft expertise, training systems and capability development support, with a focus on the JF-17 Thunder program and the Super Mushshak trainer aircraft.
Upon arrival at the Iraqi Air Force Headquarters, Air Chief Marshal Sidhu was presented with a guard of honour, a gesture described as symbolizing mutual respect and strengthening institutional ties between the two air forces.
The discussions focused on enhancing bilateral military cooperation, including joint training, operational collaboration and interoperability, with the air chief highlighting the deep-rooted religious, cultural and historical ties between Pakistan and Iraq.
He reaffirmed the PAF’s commitment to supporting the Iraqi Air Force through training initiatives and professional exchanges, while both commanders agreed to conduct structured joint exercises aimed at enhancing operational readiness and coordination.
The commitment comes amid broader regional interest in Pakistan’s aviation platforms, particularly the JF-17, which has positioned itself as a cost-effective multi-role fighter supported by local training and maintenance frameworks.
Earlier this week, the ISPR said the Bangladesh Air Force chief called Air Chief Sidhu at the Air Headquarters to discuss defense cooperation, including the possible acquisition of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets.
A few days later, the Reuters news agency, citing three sources familiar with the matter who requested anonymity, reported that Pakistan was in the final stages of an arms deal with Sudan worth $1.5 billion, including Super Mushshak training aircraft and possibly JF-17 fighter jets.
The report followed another Reuters article on a possible JF-17 fighter jet deal with Saudi Arabia, with whom Pakistan had already signed a Mutual Strategic Defense Agreement in September last year.
A report on Saturday on the PTV Digital website said Turkiye is seeking to join the agreement, a move that could lead to a new trilateral security alignment. He cited a report from US-based Bloomberg that Ankara sees joining the pact as a way to bolster security and deterrence.
Bloomberg, citing its sources, reported that the talks were at an advanced stage and that “an agreement is very likely to be reached.” He noted that Turkiye’s strategic interests increasingly overlap with those of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in South Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
According to PTV, the Bloomberg story also cited comments from Nihat Ali Ozcan, a strategist at Ankara-based think tank TEPAV, who highlighted the three countries’ complementary strengths.
The report added that an expanded alliance could alter regional and global security calculations, particularly as countries reevaluate alliances and seek clearer distinctions between friends and rivals in a changing geopolitical environment.
Bloomberg noted that Turkiye has already deepened defense ties with both countries, including building warship corvettes, sharing drone technology and upgrading F-16s for Pakistan, adding that Ankara now aims to involve Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in its fifth-generation Kaan fighter jet program.
Meanwhile, security sources in Islamabad have warned that any military confrontation with friendly countries was a routine matter; Therefore, such questions should not be subject to any speculation.
They highlighted that such commitments are generally disclosed through minimal public statements. “The details of the said engagement are being shared sparingly and should not be a matter of conjecture,” a source told The Express PAkGazette.
In Islamabad on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry also played down media speculation linking JF-17 sales to broader financial or security deals, reiterating that any confirmed defense deal would be announced once it formally materialized.
(WITH INPUTS FROM THE NEWS DESK)
