ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu met senior Saudi defence officials during an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the Saudi leadership lauding Pakistan’s “constructive role” in promoting regional peace and stability, the military’s media wing said on Thursday.
According to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the air chief called on Royal Saudi Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz and Saudi Armed Forces Chief of General Staff General Fayyadh bin Hameed Al-Rowaily.
During the meetings, the two sides discussed bilateral defence cooperation, the regional security environment and future avenues for collaboration.
The statement said the Saudi defence leadership praised the professionalism, operational excellence and combat readiness of the Pakistan Air Force, while expressing strong interest in expanding joint training and operational cooperation, particularly in the area of multi-domain operations.
They also appreciated Pakistan’s constructive contribution to regional peace and stability.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the existing level of defence cooperation and agreed to further enhance engagement through joint training, operational collaboration and the exchange of professional expertise. The Pakistan–Saudi Arabia Defence Agreement was highlighted as a symbol of mutual trust and enduring brotherly relations.
ACM Sidhu highlighted the historic and fraternal ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening military-to-military cooperation through bilateral and multilateral exercises.
He also briefed his counterparts on the Pakistan Air Force’s transformation into a robust multi-domain force, integrating space, cyber, electronic warfare and artificial intelligence capabilities, as demonstrated through its operational performance.
ISPR said the visit underscored the depth of the strategic partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and reflected the shared commitment of both countries to further strengthening cooperation in the defence and aviation sectors.
The visit comes amid reports of discussions between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on converting around $2 billion in Saudi loans into a deal for JF-17 Thunder fighter jets.
A day earlier, Reuters quoted sources as saying the talks were focused on the provision of JF-17 fighter jets — the light combat aircraft jointly developed by Pakistan and China and manufactured by Pakistan. Another source said the aircraft was the primary option under consideration.
According to the report, the total value of the proposed deal could reach $4 billion, including an additional $2 billion for equipment beyond the loan conversion.
The development comes months after the two countries signed a mutual defence pact last year.
