- Indonesian Defense Minister meets with Marshal Munir.
- Both sides emphasize the importance of defense ties.
- Indonesian air chief praises professionalism of Pakistani forces.
Chief of Defense Force (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to fostering a strong and sustainable 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 the Army Media Wing.
The meeting focused on issues of mutual interest, evolving regional and global security dynamics and exploring avenues to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation, the statement said. Both sides highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional ties, training collaboration and defense industrial cooperation between Pakistan and Indonesia, the statement said.
The visiting dignitary praised the professionalism of the Pakistani armed forces and acknowledged their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. He also expressed Indonesia’s desire to further expand its 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 near: sources
The visiting minister had earlier asked Pakistan’s air force chief in Islamabad to discuss a potential deal including 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 in a series of defense procurement negotiations and seeks to establish itself as an important regional player.
The Indonesian Defense Ministry confirmed the meeting between Sjamsoeddin and Pakistani Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu.
“The meeting focused on discussing general 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 discussions had not yet resulted in concrete decisions.
A source said the discussions focused on the sale of JF-17 fighter jets, a multi-role combat aircraft jointly developed by Pakistan and China, and killer drones designed for surveillance and striking targets.
The other two sources said the negotiations were at an advanced stage and involved more than 40 JF-17 aircraft. One of them said Indonesia was also interested in Pakistan’s Shahpar drones.
The sources did not share any discussions on delivery timelines and the number of years the proposed deal would cover.
The Pakistani military’s public relations arm did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
