Latest news with #ZaheerAhmedBaberSidhu
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir promoted to field marshal after recent skirmishes with India
Pakistan's powerful army chief, Gen. Asim Munir, has been promoted to the rank of field marshal days after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between nuclear-armed rivals Pakistan and India following one of their most serious military confrontations in decades. In a statement, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also approved the extension of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu's tenure in recognition of his service. Sharif has praised Munir and other military leaders for what he described as a 'befitting response' to an Indian airstrike on Pakistani air bases in the early hours of May 7. Munir becomes only the second military officer in Pakistan's history to hold the title of field marshal. The first was Gen. Ayub Khan, who led the country during the 1965 war with India. 'I am deeply thankful to Allah Almighty for this honour,' Munir said in a statement. The ceasefire was aimed at ending weeks of escalating clashes, including missile and drone strikes, triggered by the mass shooting of tourists last month that India blamed on Pakistan, which denies the charge. Nearly 7,500 people from Pakistan and India have since signed a petition calling for dialogue between the two sides. The online appeal, titled 'India, Pakistan: Stop the Hostilities,' was launched on May 7 by the South Asia Peace Action Network, a coalition of peace advocates, journalists and citizens.
Arab News
21-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Islamabad, Beijing discuss bolstering ‘collective response mechanisms' after India-Pakistan fighting
KARACHI: Beijing's ambassador to Islamabad met the Pakistani air chief on Tuesday evening, with the two leaders vowing to 'bolster collective response mechanisms to emerging threats,' the Pakistan army said in a statement, a little over a week after Islamabad's worst military standoff with New Delhi in decades gave Chinese weapons a rare battle test. The most striking claim from four days of fighting earlier this month was the contention of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) that its Chinese-supplied jets had shot down six Indian aircraft — including three French-made Rafale fighters — with some observers seeing this as a symbol of Beijing's rising military might. Pakistan accounts for around 63 percent of China's arms exports, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). In the recent fighting with India, Pakistan used the J10-C Vigorous Dragon and JF-17 Thunder planes, armed with air-to-air missiles. It was the first time the J10-C has been used in active combat. Islamabad's air defenses also used Chinese kit — including the HQ-9P long-range surface-to-air missile system — and deployed Chinese radar as well as armed and reconnaissance drones. On Tuesday evening, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, called on Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, and engaged in a 'comprehensive and in-depth discussion on a range of matters including corporate-level engagements, defense cooperation and the evolving geostrategic environment in the region.' 'They underscored the importance of cohesive & collaborative approaches in responding to emerging challenges, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining peak operational readiness and swift coordination amidst the prevailing regional security dynamics,' the Pakistan army said in a statement released after the meeting. Sidhu commended China's role in assisting Pakistan's defense modernization and technological advancement. 'Both the dignitaries reaffirmed their pledge to institutionalize regular high-level exchanges through expanded joint operational exercises and exploration of multilateral frameworks that bolster collective response mechanisms to emerging threats,' the Pakistan army said. The statement said the Chinese ambassador lauded the 'unmatched operational excellence' demonstrated by PAF personnel during the recent standoff with India, terming it a reflection of PAF's 'high standards and unwavering commitment to national defense.' 'He praised Pakistan Air Force for its exemplary professionalism and commendable utilization of Chinese-origin equipment & technology to thwart enemy aggression,' the Pakistan army said. 'The dignitary also acknowledged PAF's operational effectiveness and strategic acumen in employing indigenous solutions and advanced systems to safeguard national interests and deter potential threats under the current leadership.' The ambassador assured 'full technical assistance' to PAF to bolster its aerial defense capabilities, adding that continued focus on homegrown technological development would further elevate the country's defense capabilities. Nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and India halted their worst fighting in nearly three decades after agreeing to a ceasefire on May 10, following diplomacy and pressure from the United States. On Tuesday, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi sad Beijing welcomed and supported efforts by Pakistan and India to handle their differences through dialogue and to achieve a 'comprehensive and lasting' ceasefire. With inputs from AFP and Reuters
Business Recorder
21-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Chinese envoy lauds operational excellence of Pakistan Air Force
ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong has lauded the operational excellence of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), particularly during the recent standoff on the eastern front. He praised PAF's effective deployment of Chinese-origin equipment and advanced technology in safeguarding national defence, terming it a reflection of the force's professionalism, strategic acumen, and unwavering commitment to the country's sovereignty. The remarks were made during a high-level meeting with Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, at Air Headquarters in Islamabad. The two dignitaries engaged in a comprehensive discussion covering bilateral defence cooperation, corporate-level engagements, and the evolving geo-strategic environment in the region. During the meeting, the Chinese envoy commended the Pakistan Air Force's remarkable performance and its growing reliance on indigenous solutions to counter emerging threats. He acknowledged the strides made by PAF under its current leadership in achieving technological advancement and operational effectiveness. Ambassador Jiang reiterated China's enduring support and assured full technical assistance to further strengthen Pakistan's aerial defence capabilities. Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu welcomed the ambassador and emphasised the historic and time-tested ties between Pakistan and China, rooted in mutual trust and strategic convergence. He described the relationship as 'Iron Brothers' relations,' stating that the bond has only grown stronger over time and will continue to deepen through enhanced cooperation and innovation. The Air Chief also expressed gratitude for China's consistent support in defence modernisation, particularly in areas such as human resource development, technology transfer, and joint research and development. He underscored the importance of institutionalising regular high-level exchanges, expanding joint operational exercises, and exploring multilateral frameworks to strengthen collective response mechanisms to regional security challenges. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace, stability, and development in the region through continued strategic partnership and defence collaboration. The meeting stood as a testament to the shared resolve of Pakistan and China to deepen their partnership and work together in navigating emerging security challenges through unity and innovation. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
21-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Chinese envoy lauds operational excellence of PAF
ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong has lauded the operational excellence of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), particularly during the recent standoff on the eastern front. He praised PAF's effective deployment of Chinese-origin equipment and advanced technology in safeguarding national defence, terming it a reflection of the force's professionalism, strategic acumen, and unwavering commitment to the country's sovereignty. The remarks were made during a high-level meeting with Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, at Air Headquarters in Islamabad. The two dignitaries engaged in a comprehensive discussion covering bilateral defence cooperation, corporate-level engagements, and the evolving geo-strategic environment in the region. During the meeting, the Chinese envoy commended the Pakistan Air Force's remarkable performance and its growing reliance on indigenous solutions to counter emerging threats. He acknowledged the strides made by PAF under its current leadership in achieving technological advancement and operational effectiveness. Ambassador Jiang reiterated China's enduring support and assured full technical assistance to further strengthen Pakistan's aerial defence capabilities. Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu welcomed the ambassador and emphasised the historic and time-tested ties between Pakistan and China, rooted in mutual trust and strategic convergence. He described the relationship as 'Iron Brothers' relations,' stating that the bond has only grown stronger over time and will continue to deepen through enhanced cooperation and innovation. The Air Chief also expressed gratitude for China's consistent support in defence modernisation, particularly in areas such as human resource development, technology transfer, and joint research and development. He underscored the importance of institutionalising regular high-level exchanges, expanding joint operational exercises, and exploring multilateral frameworks to strengthen collective response mechanisms to regional security challenges. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace, stability, and development in the region through continued strategic partnership and defence collaboration. The meeting stood as a testament to the shared resolve of Pakistan and China to deepen their partnership and work together in navigating emerging security challenges through unity and innovation. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
China envoy lauds PAF's 'excellence'
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong has lauded the "operational excellence" demonstrated by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) personnel during the recent standoff on the eastern front, terming it a reflection of PAF's high standards and unwavering commitment to national defence. During a meeting with Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu on Tuesday in the Air Headquarters in Islamabad, Zaidong praised the PAF for its "exemplary professionalism" and "commendable utilization" of Chinese-origin equipment and technology to thwart enemy aggression. Following missile strikes inside Pakistan on May 7, PAF's J-10 fighter jets which are made in collaboration with China engaged in a dogfight with fighter jets of Indian Air Force over the contested valley of Kashmir. During this combat, the PAF downed six Indian aircraft including three Rafales, in a major blow to India. The Chinese ambassador acknowledged the PAF's operational effectiveness and strategic acumen in employing indigenous solutions and advanced systems to safeguard national interests and deter potential threats under the current leadership. Reaffirming China's enduring support, the ambassador assured full technical assistance to the PAF in order to bolster its aerial defence capabilities. He also lauded Pakistan's commitment to self-reliance and emphasized that the PAF's investment in indigenous processes had begun to yield promising results. He stressed that continued focus on homegrown technological development would further elevate the country's defence capabilities. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), both dignitaries engaged in a comprehensive and in-depth discussion on a range of matters including corporate-level engagements, defence cooperation and the evolving geostrategic environment in the region. They underscored the importance of cohesive and collaborative approaches in responding to emerging challenges, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining peak operational readiness and swift coordination amidst the prevailing regional security dynamics. Earlier, the air chief extended a gracious welcome to the ambassador, reiterating that Pakistan and China enjoy historic and time-tested ties rooted in mutual trust, strategic convergence and shared aspirations for regional peace and stability. He described the two nations as "Iron Brothers," emphasizing that their bond has only strengthened over the decades and will continue to deepen through future cooperation and partnership. The air chief also expressed his profound gratitude to China for its continued support and unwavering friendship. He also commended China's role in assisting Pakistan's defence modernization and technological advancement especially in areas of human resource development, technology transfer and collaborative research & development. Both the dignitaries reaffirmed their pledge to institutionalize regular high-level exchanges through expanded joint operational exercises and exploration of multilateral frameworks that bolster collective response mechanisms to emerging threats. "This meeting stands as a testament to the shared resolve of Pakistan and China to advance their time-tested strategic partnership through deepened cooperation and innovation-driven collaboration," the statement added.
