
PAF chief's visit to US reinforces defence cooperation: ISPR
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the high-profile visit marked a strategic milestone in bilateral military ties, with a focus on enhancing institutional linkages, interoperability, and joint defence initiatives.
During his stay, the Air Chief held high-level meetings with senior officials at the Pentagon and the US State Department, as well as with members of the US Congress. At the Pentagon, he met Secretary of the Air Force (International Affairs) Kelli L. Seybolt and Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General David W. Allvin.
Discussions centred on strengthening military-to-military cooperation, exploring avenues for joint training and technology exchange, and deepening operational collaboration between the two Air Forces. The two sides agreed to continue high-level military engagements through senior-level exchanges.
At the US State Department, the Air Chief met senior officials from the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and the Bureau of South & Central Asian Affairs, where he highlighted Pakistan's contributions to regional peace, counterterrorism efforts, and its perspective on evolving geopolitical developments in South and Central Asia.
In a separate session at Capitol Hill, Air Chief Marshal Sidhu engaged with key members of the US Congress including Mike Turner, Rich McCormick, and Bill Huizenga.
These meetings provided a platform to present Pakistan's strategic viewpoint on regional security and the role of emerging technologies in shaping future defence cooperation.
Reiterating Pakistan's commitment to global peace, the Air Chief underlined the country's sacrifices in the war on terror and emphasized its evolving security approach in light of shifting regional dynamics.
The visit, ISPR noted, laid the groundwork for renewed strategic dialogue and institutional collaboration between the Pakistan Air Force and the United States Air Force, reinforcing mutual efforts toward regional and global security.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
PAF chief visits US to seek deeper defence ties
Listen to article Days after the army chief's unprecedented visit to Washington, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, undertook an official visit to the United States in yet another significant development aimed at strengthening bilateral defence cooperation and advancing mutual interests. This was the first visit by a serving PAF chief in over a decade, indicating the stepped up military engagements between Pakistan and the US. "The high-profile visit marked a strategic milestone in Pakistan-US defence cooperation and proved instrumental in deepening institutional ties in addition to addressing key regional and global security issues," read a statement issued here on Tuesday by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). There has been renewed interest in Pakistan after it inflicted heavy military losses on India in May during the four-day military conflict. Pakistan Air Force's spectacular success against Indian Air Force on the night of May 6 and 7 took many, particularly the western countries, by surprise. According to the ISPR, during the visit, Chief of the Air Staff held a series of high-level meetings with senior U.S. military and political leadership. At the Pentagon, he called on Ms Kelli L. Seybolt, Secretary of the Air Force (International Affairs), and General David W. Allvin, Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. During the meetings the discussions centered around advancing bilateral military cooperation, enhancing interoperability and exploring avenues of joint training & technology exchange. Chief of the Air Staff highlighted the historic and multifaceted relationship between Pakistan and United States, particularly in the domains of defence and security cooperation. He reiterated his resolve to further enhance the existing ties in the realms of military-to-military cooperation and training between the Air Forces of the two countries. The two sides also agreed upon the continuation of high-level military engagements in future through senior-level interactions. "These interactions are deemed crucial for maintaining momentum in the ongoing cooperative endeavours in the areas of joint training, operational exercises and military exchange programs between the two nations," it said. At the US State Department, the Air Chief met with Mr. Brown L. Stanley from the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and Mr. Eric Meyer from the Bureau of South & Central Asian Affairs. The meetings served as a forum to underscore Pakistan's constructive role in promoting regional stability, its firm commitment to counterterrorism efforts and its nuanced perspective on the evolving geopolitical dynamics of South and Central Asia. As part of his engagements at Capitol Hill, Chief of the Air Staff held substantive dialogues with prominent members of the U.S. Congress including Mr. Mike Turner, Mr Rich McCormick and Mr Bill Huizenga. These interactions reinforced the importance of robust engagement in strengthening bilateral relations and provided a valuable opportunity to share Pakistan's views on strategic challenges, regional security frameworks and the impact of emerging technologies on defence cooperation. Emphasizing Pakistan's status as a peace-loving nation, the air chief reaffirmed the country's enduring sacrifices and notable operational achievements in the global war on terror, while also outlining Pakistan's evolving security calculus in response to the rapidly shifting regional geopolitical landscape. "The landmark visit not only reaffirmed Pakistan Air Force's commitment to promoting regional and global peace, but also laid the groundwork for renewed institutional collaboration, strategic dialogue and enhanced interoperability between Pakistan Air Force and the United States Air Force," the ISPR said. Meanwhile, South African Air Force Chief Lieutenant General Wiseman Simo Mbambo called on Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu at Air Headquarters, Islamabad. Upon his arrival, a smartly turned-out contingent of Pakistan Air Force presented guard of honour to Lieutenant General Wiseman Simo Mbambo, stated a release issued by ISPR. During the meeting, Chief of the Air Staff emphasized the shared values and aspirations that form the foundation of the deep-rooted friendship between Pakistan and South Africa. The Air Chief reiterated PAF's commitment to bolster aerial combat capabilities of the South African Air Force through tailored training and capacity-building initiatives. Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo lauded PAF's robust operational readiness, its multi-domain warfare capabilities and its success in maintaining a credible deterrence posture. Recognizing the shared values and interests between the two air forces, the South African Air Chief articulated a strong desire to further strengthen and institutionalize the formal relationship between South African Air Force and PAF. One of the central themes of the discussions was the revamping of South African Air Force's training regime. In this context, Lieutenant General Mbambo sought Pakistan Air Force's support in developing a modern and comprehensive training framework, commencing at the academy level. The visiting dignitary also expressed his earnest desire of participation of South African Air Force officers as observers in PAF's major operational exercises. Acknowledging the technical excellence and cost-effective maintenance capabilities offered by PAF's engineering infrastructure, he also conveyed the intent of South African Air Force to undertake the inspection and maintenance of its C-130 fleet in Pakistan.


Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Pahalgam: Quad avoids blaming Pakistan
Listen to article The Quad grouping of the United States, India, Japan and Australia called on Tuesday for the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 in IIOJK to be brought to justice without delay. The April 22 attack sparked heavy fighting between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan in the latest escalation of a decades-old rivalry as India blamed it on Pakistan, which denied responsibility while calling for a neutral investigation. The US State Department issued a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the grouping, who met in Washington, but stopped short of naming Pakistan or blaming Islamabad. "The Quad unequivocally condemns all acts of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism," the ministers said in the statement. They called on all members of the United Nations to cooperate actively with "all relevant authorities" in delivering justice to the "perpetrators, organizers, and financiers of this reprehensible act", without any delay. India is an increasingly important U.S. partner in Washington's effort to counter China's rising influence in Asia while Pakistan is a US ally. On May 7, Indian jets bombed sites across the border that New Delhi described as "terrorist infrastructure", setting off an exchange of attacks between the two countries by fighter jets, missiles, drones and artillery that killed dozens until a ceasefire on May 10. The ceasefire was first announced by US President Donald Trump on social media after Washington held talks with both sides, but India has differed with Trump's claims that it resulted from his intervention and threats to sever trade talks. India's position has been that New Delhi and Islamabad must resolve their problems directly and with no outside involvement. On Monday, India's foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, restated its position that trade was not a factor in the ceasefire. "Relationships will never be free of issues," he said, referring to the United States, adding, "What matters is the ability to deal with it and to keep that trend going in the positive direction." The grouping also pledged to work together to ensure a stable supply of critical minerals, as worries grow over China's dominance in resources vital to new technologies. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed his counterparts from the so-called "Quad" to Washington in a shift of focus to Asia, after spending much of his first six months on the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and on President Donald Trump's domestic priorities such as migration. The four countries said in a joint statement that they were establishing the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, aimed at "collaborating on securing and diversifying" supply chains. They offered little detail but made clear the goal was to reduce reliance on China, which has used restrictions as leverage as the United States in turn curbs its access to semiconductors and as Trump threatens steep tariffsincluding on Quad countries. "Reliance on any one country for processing and refining critical minerals and derivative goods production exposes our industries to economic coercion, price manipulation and supply chain disruptions," the statement said. The ministers were careful not to mention China by name but voiced "serious concerns regarding dangerous and provocative actions" in the South China Sea and East China Sea that "threaten peace and stability in the region." China holds major reserves of several key minerals including the vast majority of the world's graphite, which is crucial for electric vehicles. In brief remarks alongside the other ministers, Rubio said he has "personally been very focused" on diversifying supply chains and wanted "real progress." The four-way partnership was first conceived by late Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, who saw an alliance of democracies surrounding China — which has repeatedly alleged that the Quad is a way to contain it. Rubio had welcomed the Quad foreign ministers on January 21 in his first meeting after Trump's inauguration, seen as a sign the new administration would prioritize engagement with like-minded countries to counter China. But to the surprise of many, China has not topped the early agenda of Trump, who has spoken respectfully about his counterpart Xi Jinping and reached a truce with Beijing to avoid a wider trade war between the world's two largest economies. Trump is expected to travel to India later this year for a Quad summit. Both the Indian and Japanese foreign ministers said that they wanted the Quad to focus on a "free and open Indo-Pacific"a phrasing that is a veiled allusion to opposing Chinese dominance in Asia. "It is essential that nations of the Indo-Pacific have the freedom of choice, so essential to make right decisions on development and security," Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said.


Express Tribune
7 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Sindh lifts ban on fishing before time
The Sindh government has prematurely lifted its annual fishing ban at coastal and freshwater bodies, which was originally set to end on August 1. The ban has been lifted from July 1 without any official explanation from the Department of Livestock and Fisheries, which issued the notification. Under the Sindh Fisheries Ordinance 1980, a two-month ban is imposed every year during June and July to allow for the natural breeding cycle of shrimp and fish. The ban plays a vital role in protecting marine life and future fishery stocks. The wildlife and marine experts have expressed serious concerns about the environmental and economic consequences of ending the ban prematurely. According to WWF-Pakistan's Technical Advisor, Muhammad Moazzam Khan, Pakistan's shrimp production has already seen a steep decline from 27,000 tons in 2020 to just 17,400 tons in 2024. He noted that, by international standards, a minimum three-month ban (from May to July) is recommended to ensure full breeding. "Sadly, in Sindh, even the two-month ban was not allowed to mature," he said. Khan warned that while the decision may be justified in the name of supporting fishermen's livelihood, the long-term result will be depletion of marine resources, ultimately harming the same communities. Fisherfolk representative Abdul Majeed Motani also opposed the early lifting of the ban, stating that it was influenced by a powerful political figure in the Sindh government, not by genuine concern for the fishing community. He added that fishing in this season is dangerous due to rough sea conditions, and claimed to have formally raised the issue with the Joint Maritime Information and Coordination Centre, warning them of the risks to both marine life and fishermen. Meanwhile, the Federal Marine Fisheries Department has also expressed alarm over the decision of prematurely ending the ban. Department's Director General, Dr. Mansoor Wassan, stated that lifting the ban early will accelerate the decline of fish and shrimp stocks, adversely affecting the Pakistan's seafood exports. Efforts by The Express Tribune to contact Sindh's Secretary of Livestock and Fisheries, Kazim Jatoi, for an explanation went unanswered. Calls and WhatsApp messages sent to his official number also received no response.