https://arab.news/yersv
- Iraqi Air Force commander calls on PAF chief in Islamabad to discuss mutual cooperation
- Iraqi commander seeks PAF’s help in building modernized training paradigm, says Pakistan military
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) chief and a senior commander of the Iraqi Air Force (IAF) resolved to enhance training initiatives and joint exercises between the two countries to improve interoperability, the Pakistani military’s media wing said on Thursday.
A high-level delegation led by Iraqi Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Staff Pilot Mohanad Ghalib Mohammed Radi Al-Asadi met Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu at the Air Headquarters in Islamabad, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
Both officials discussed various prospects for mutual cooperation between their air forces, placing special emphasis on joint training, capacity building and advancements in the aviation industry, the ISPR said.
“Both commanders concurred on conducting joint exercises and training initiatives aimed at bolstering interoperability and forging stronger operational synergy between the two air forces,” the military’s media wing said.
Al-Asadi conveyed the Iraqi Air Force’s desire to restructure its entire training system, spanning from basic to advanced operational and tactical levels, the ISPR said. He sought PAF’s support in building a modernized training paradigm of the IAF.
“The Iraqi commander also highlighted the aspiration of his force to benefit from exchange postings of PAF pilots, underscoring the immense value Iraqi aviators attach to learning directly from PAF’s combat-proven professionals,” the ISPR said.
The statement said the IAF chief wanted to establish a similar ecosystem in Iraq to the National Aerospace Science & Technology Park, bringing academia, industry and military needs under one umbrella.
Pakistan has sought closer defense and military cooperation with several countries, especially in the air force domain, since its brief military skirmish with India in May.
Pakistan’s government claimed PAF pilots shot down six Indian fighter jets. While Indian officials acknowledged its jets were shot down, they denied that six of them were downed by Pakistan.