- Indonesian Defense Minister meets with Field Marshal Munir.
- Both sides stress the importance of defense ties.
- Indonesian air chief praises professionalism of Pakistani forces.
Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to fostering a strong and enduring defense relationship with Indonesia, according to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Lieutenant General Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin (retd), Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia, visited Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at General Headquarters (GHQ), Rawalpindi, according to army media.
The meeting focused on matters of mutual interest, evolving regional and global security dynamics and exploring avenues to enhance bilateral defense cooperation, the statement said. Both sides underlined the importance of strengthening institutional ties, training collaboration and defense industrial cooperation between Pakistan and Indonesia, he said.
The visiting dignitary praised the professionalism of Pakistan Armed Forces and acknowledged their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. He also expressed Indonesia’s desire to further expand defense ties with Pakistan in multiple areas.
The CDF reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to fostering a strong and enduring defense relationship with Indonesia, based on shared values, mutual respect and convergence of strategic interests.
Pakistan-Indonesia defense deal close: sources
The visiting minister earlier called Pakistan’s air force chief in Islamabad to discuss a possible deal that includes the sale of fighter jets and killer drones to Jakarta, three security officials with knowledge of the meeting said on Monday.
The talks come as Pakistan’s defense industry moves forward with a series of defense procurement negotiations and seeks to establish itself as a major regional player.
The Indonesian Defense Ministry confirmed the meeting between Sjamsoeddin and Pakistan Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu.
“The meeting focused on discussing overall defense cooperation relations, including strategic dialogue, strengthening communication between defense institutions and opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields in the long term,” Defense Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait told Reuters, adding that the talks had not yet led to concrete decisions.
A source said the talks revolved around the sale of JF-17 aircraft, a multi-role fighter jet jointly developed by Pakistan and China, and killer drones designed for surveillance and attacking targets.
The other two sources said talks were at an advanced stage and involved more than 40 JF-17 aircraft. One of them said that Indonesia was also interested in Pakistan’s Shahpar drones.
The sources did not share any discussion about delivery times and the number of years the proposed deal would span.
The Pakistani military’s public relations wing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
