Commander Iraqi Air Force meets Air Chief in Islamabad
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: A high-level defence delegation led by Lieutenant General Staff Pilot Mohanad Ghalib Mohammed Radi Al-Asadi, Commander of the Iraqi Air Force, called on Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force (PAF), at Air Headquarters here on Thursday.
Upon arrival, the visiting commander was presented with a Guard of Honour by a smartly turned-out PAF contingent.
During the meeting, both sides discussed avenues of mutual cooperation, with a particular focus on joint training, capacity building, and advancements in the aviation sector.
Air Chief Marshal Sidhu highlighted the deep-rooted religious and historic ties between Pakistan and Iraq, terming them the foundation of a long-standing relationship between the two air forces. He reaffirmed PAF’s commitment to extending unwavering support to the Iraqi Air Force, especially in the training domain, and assured continued assistance in capacity-building initiatives.
Both commanders agreed to enhance collaboration through joint exercises and training programmes aimed at boosting interoperability and operational synergy.
The Iraqi Air Force commander expressed appreciation for the warm welcome and lauded PAF’s transformation into a modern, professional, and technologically advanced force. He underscored Iraq’s resolve to restructure its training system from basic to advanced operational levels, seeking PAF’s expertise in building a modernized framework. He also showed keen interest in exchange postings for Iraqi aviators to benefit from PAF’s combat experience.
Lt Gen Al-Asadi praised PAF’s innovative initiatives at the National Aerospace Science & Technology Park, noting Iraq’s aspiration to develop a similar ecosystem integrating academia, industry, and military needs. He later visited the National ISR & Integrated Air Operations Centre and PAF Cyber Command, where he was briefed on PAF’s operational and technological capabilities.
The visit reflects the strong commitment of Pakistan and Iraq to deepening military cooperation and further strengthening bilateral ties.
