Pakistan commits to provide basic, tactical-level training to Belarusian fighter pilots
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force Chief Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu on Thursday said the PAF was ready to support the Belarus Air Force (BAF) with basic to tactical level training, the military's media wing said, as both sides discussed military and air cooperation.
Sidhu met a high-level defense delegation led by BAF and Air Defense Commander Major General Andrei Yulianovich Lukyanovich, the Pakistani military's media wing said.
'During the meeting, Chief of the Air Staff [..] assured that PAF is committed to extending full support for the basic to tactical-level training of pilots and maintenance crews for capacity building of BAF,' the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing, said in a statement.
'This includes the initiation of high-level exchange programs aimed at fostering professional development between the two air forces.'
Lukyanovich expressed a strong interest in learning from the PAF's extensive operational experience in wartime operations and conveyed the BAF's eagerness to draw lessons from the PAF's combat-tested doctrines and training programs, the ISPR said.
The PAF says it shot down six Indian Air Force jets on the night of May 6 while repelling Indian air attacks. India's defense chief recently admitted the country lost fighter jets to Pakistan. However, he denied six jets were shot down.
The meeting takes place a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Belarusian Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Victor Khrenin in Islamabad, where the two discussed bilateral defense and technology ties.
Sharif visited Belarus in April during which both countries signed a roadmap for military-technical cooperation from 2025 to 2027, along with multiple agreements in trade, defense and industrial collaboration.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Pakistani PM holds informal meeting with Saudi Crown Prince at royal court luncheon
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held 'informal talks' with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman today, Friday, at a special luncheon at the royal court, ahead of bilateral talks between the two leaders. Sharif arrived in the Kingdom on Thursday on a two-day visit in which he will hold bilateral discussions with the Saudi Crown Prince on enhancing cooperation in trade, investment and regional security. A statement from Sharif's office said the Crown Prince gave a 'special welcome' to the PM and personally drove him to attend the lunch. 'The Saudi Crown Prince warmly welcomed Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif at the lunch and informal talks were held between the two leaders,' the statement said. 'The lunch was attended by important leaders from the Middle East, including members of the Saudi cabinet and top Saudi civil and military leadership.' Sharif reached Jeddah on Thursday evening and departed for Makkah to perform Umrah, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) had said in an earlier statement. 'The two leaders will discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields, including trade and investment, welfare of the Muslim Ummah, and regional peace and security,' PMO said about Sharif's meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince later today, Friday. Sharif is also expected to express gratitude to the Saudi leadership for their role in de-escalating recent tensions between Pakistan and India. Last month, following the worst military confrontation between India and Pakistan in decades, Saudi Arabia, along with other Gulf nations, played a key role in mediating between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, helping to avert a potential war. The visit also comes amid deepening economic ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. In recent months, the two countries have signed multiple agreements aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment. Notably, Saudi Arabia has committed to a $5 billion investment package to support Pakistan's economy, which has been grappling with a balance of payments crisis. Last year, Saudi and Pakistani businessmen signed 34 memorandums of understanding worth $2.8 billion, covering sectors such as industry, technology, and agriculture. Additionally, Saudi Arabia's Manara Minerals is in talks to acquire a 10-20 percent stake in Pakistan's $9 billion Reko Diq copper and gold mining project, one of the largest of its kind globally. Defense cooperation is also a key component of the bilateral relationship. The two nations have a history of military collaboration, with Saudi Arabia providing support to Pakistan during times of regional tension and Pakistan training Saudi forces. Pakistan has a 2.7 million-strong diaspora in Saudi Arabia, which accounts for the highest remittance inflow, a crucial lifeline for the country's economy.
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Saudi crown prince meets with Pakistani PM in Mina
MINA: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday at Mina Palace, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The two leaders exchanged Eid Al-Adha greetings and discussed the longstanding ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, with a focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation across various sectors, SPA added. They also reviewed regional developments and the efforts being made to enhance security and stability in the region. The reception was attended by several senior Saudi officials, including Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Makkah Region; Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef, Minister of Interior; Prince Khalid bin Salman, Minister of Defense; and Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Also in attendance were Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Envoy; Minister of Information Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari; Chief of General Intelligence Khalid bin Ali Al-Humaidan; and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliki. On the Pakistani side, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar joined the meeting along with Field Marshal Hafiz Syed Asim, Chief of Army Staff and ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmed Farooq.
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan moves to build ‘direct collaboration' with New York Crypto Council
KARACHI: Pakistan's Minister of State for Crypto and Blockchain, Bilal Bin Saqib, has met New York City Mayor Eric Adams, in a 'key step' toward building 'direct collaboration' between the crypto councils of Pakistan and New York, Saqib's office said in a statement on Friday. The minister, who is also the CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), has been on a visit to the United States since last month, where he has met over a dozen key US government officials and lawmakers to strengthen cooperation in the areas of digital assets, blockchain regulation, and financial innovation. Pakistan set up the PCC in March to create a legal framework for cryptocurrency trading in a bid to lure international investment. In April, Pakistan introduced its first-ever policy framework to set rules for how digital money like cryptocurrencies and the companies that deal in it should operate in Pakistan. The policy has been formulated to align with compliance and financial integrity guidelines of the global Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Last month, the government also approved setting up the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), a specialized regulatory body to oversee blockchain-based financial infrastructure. Saqib last week also unveiled the country's first government-led strategic bitcoin reserve at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas. 'Both New York City and Pakistan have taken bold steps by establishing dedicated Crypto Councils to support the responsible growth of the digital economy,' a statement from Saqib's office said after he met Adams. 'This meeting marked a key step toward building direct collaboration between the New York Crypto Council and the Pakistan Crypto Council— two government-backed bodies committed to shaping the future of Web3.' Adams and Saqib explored opportunities to co-develop knowledge-sharing initiatives, capacity-building programs, and strategic advisory efforts to foster innovation and also discussed regulatory compliance. 'This event marked the final stop on Minister Saqib's official US tour focused on blockchain innovation, public-private partnerships, and advancing global crypto collaboration. The meeting at Gracie Mansion offered a fitting conclusion— highlighting New York City's pivotal role in global tech leadership and Pakistan's emergence as a bold new voice in the digital asset space,' the statement said. Late last month, Pakistan announced the allocation of 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity in the first phase of a national initiative to power bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence data centers. The allocation is the first phase of a broader, multi-stage digital infrastructure roll-out. On Thursday, Pakistan's Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb chaired a meeting at the Finance Division to review progress on the development of a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital and virtual assets in the country. The law ministry tabled a draft of the proposed legal framework during the meeting, which was developed through close collaboration with members of the PCC, key stakeholders and technical experts. 'During the meeting, the draft was thoroughly reviewed and refined,' the Finance Division said. 'It was collectively agreed that in-principle approval process will be fast-tracked to ensure timely enactment and effective implementation.' The draft legislation outlines a regulatory structure for digital and virtual assets, encompassing governance mechanisms, licensing protocols and investor protection provisions, the statement said. The proposed framework seeks to position Pakistan as a forward-looking participant in the digital asset ecosystem, the statement added.
