Iraqi commander hails PAF’s technological advancements, seeks benefit from Pakistan’s training facilities
Field Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu visited Iraq on Saturday, where he visited Pilot Staff Lieutenant General Mohanad Ghalib Mohammed Radi Al-Asadi.
Iraq expressed interest in acquiring JF-17 Thunder fighter jets and Super Mushshak trainer jets from Pakistan during a meeting between the air force commanders of the two countries.
Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu visited Iraq on Saturday, where he called on Pilot Lieutenant General 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 advancements of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), expressing interest in the JF-17 Thunder fighter jets and the Super Mushshak trainer aircraft, a Pakistani-made basic trainer aircraft used for pilot training.
Read: Bangladesh in talks to buy Pakistan’s JF-17 fighter jets
He also expressed keenness to benefit from Pakistan’s world-class training facilities.
The Iraqi commander appreciated Pakistan’s role in promoting regional stability and expressed desire to deepen defense cooperation between the two countries.
Air Chief Marshal Sidhu received a guard of honor on his arrival, symbolizing the strong bond of respect between the two nations.
Discussions between the two commanders focused on strengthening bilateral military cooperation, with particular emphasis on joint training programs, capacity building initiatives and improving 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.
The two commanders agreed to continue joint exercises and training initiatives aimed at strengthening interoperability between the two air forces. The visit underlined the shared determination of the two air forces to further strengthen defense ties and enhance professional collaboration.
Learn more: Pakistan, Libya reach multi-billion 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 Rafales, during the May 2025 conflict, international interest in Pakistan’s operational assets increased.
This caused the stock price of China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC), which makes the plane, to rise by more than 17%.
On January 6, a high-level delegation from the Bangladesh Air Force, led by Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, also held talks with Sidhu regarding the potential acquisition of the JF-17.
In December 2025, Libya and Pakistan also concluded a major multi-billion dollar conventional arms export deal, described as one of the largest arms sales ever to Pakistan, which included 16 JF-17 and 12 Super Mushshak trainer aircraft.
