The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Pakistan and Bangladesh have held high-level military talks on a possible defense cooperation agreement that could include the sale of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to Dhaka, Pakistan’s military said Tuesday, signaling warming ties between the two South Asian nations.
Pakistan Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed
Baber Sidhu met his Bangladeshi counterpart, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood
Khan, in Islamabad, where the two discussed procurement of the JF-17, a
multirole combat aircraft jointly developed by Pakistan and China, according to
a statement from the military’s media wing.
Pakistan also assured Bangladesh of fast-tracked delivery of
Super Mushshak trainer aircraft, along with training and long-term logistical
support, the statement said.
The talks come as Islamabad seeks to expand its defense
exports and capitalize on what it describes as the recent operational success
of its air force during heightened tensions with longtime rival India last
year.
Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have improved
markedly since August 2024, when mass protests forced Bangladeshi Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India, severely straining Dhaka’s ties with
New Delhi. Since then, Pakistan and Bangladesh have resumed direct trade for the
first time since the 1971 war that led to Bangladesh’s independence, and
military officials from both countries have held a series of meetings.
“The visit underscored the strong historical ties between
Pakistan and Bangladesh and reflected a shared resolve to deepen defense
cooperation and build a long-term strategic partnership,” Pakistan’s military
said.
Bangladesh is currently governed by an interim
administration led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus and is
scheduled to hold general elections on Feb. 12. The vote could see a
significant political role for a previously banned Islamist party that has
historical links to Pakistan.
The JF-17 has become the centerpiece of Pakistan’s
indigenous weapons development program and has already been exported to
Azerbaijan. Pakistan has also announced major arms agreements involving the
aircraft, including a multibillion-dollar deal with Libya’s eastern-based
forces.
Pakistan’s defense minister, Khawaja Asif, said Tuesday that
growing international demand for Pakistani military hardware could
significantly bolster the country’s struggling economy.
“Our aircraft have been tested, and we are receiving so many
orders that Pakistan may not need the International Monetary Fund in six
months,” Asif told Geo News.
