ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief said on Monday the country had “excellent” ties with the United States and the best military equipment Pakistan had was from the Americans.
General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s comments come as Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has alleged a campaign to dislodge him from office is orchestrated by the United States.
“We had historically excellent relations with US,” the army chief said in a statement shared by the army’s media wing, the ISPR, quoting what Bajwa had said at a conference in Islamabad. “The good army we have today is largely built and trained by US. The best equipment we have is American equipment. We still have deep cooperation with US and our Western friends.”
Khan has accused the opposition of being in cahoots with the United States to unseat him, saying America wants him gone over his foreign policy choices that often favor China and Russia. Khan, when he was an opposition leader, has also been a strident opponent of America’s war on terror and Pakistan’s partnership in that war with Washington.
Khan’s insistence there is US involvement in attempts to oust him exploits a deep-seated mistrust among many in Pakistan of US intentions, particularly following 9/11, experts widely say.
Washington has often berated Pakistan for doing too little to fight militants, even as thousands of Pakistanis have died at their hands and the army has lost more than 5,000 soldiers, according to government figures. Pakistan has been attacked for aiding Taliban insurgents while also being asked to bring them to the peace table.
The US denies the allegations it is involved in a campaign to oust Khan.
Pakistan army chief says has ‘excellent’ relations with US, best equipment is from Americans
https://arab.news/86qe7
Pakistan army chief says has ‘excellent’ relations with US, best equipment is from Americans
- General Bajwa’s comments come as PM Khan has alleged campaign to dislodge him is orchestrated by US
- Experts says Khan’s insistence of US involvement to oust him exploits deep-seated mistrust among many in Pakistan
Pakistan says Iraq expressed ‘keen interest’ in JF-17 jets at air chiefs meeting
- Pakistan’s defense sector has drawn growing interest and investment since a four-day standoff with India in May last year
- Many countries have since increased defense engagement, while multiple others have proposed learning from Pakistan’s expertise
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military said on Saturday that Iraq had shown “keen interest” in its JF-17 Thunder and Super Mushshak aircraft at a meeting between chiefs of the two air forces.
Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu called on Lt. Gen. Staff Pilot Mohanad Ghalib Mohammed Radi Al-Asadi, commander of the Iraqi Air Force, during his official visit to Iraq.
The Pakistani air chief was accorded a guard of honor at the Iraqi Air Force headquarters, symbolizing the strong bond of mutual respect, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.
“Discussions focused on enhancing bilateral military cooperation, with emphasis on joint training, capacity-building and improving operational cooperation,” the ISPR said.
“The Iraqi Air Chief praised PAF’s professionalism and technological advancement, expressed interest in benefiting from PAF’s world-class training and expressed keen interest in JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, Super Mushshak trainer aircraft.”
Pakistan’s defense sector has drawn growing interest and investment, particularly since a four-day India-Pakistan military standoff in May last year. Islamabad claimed victory in the standoff, saying it had shot down six Indian aircraft, including French-made Rafale jets. India acknowledged losses but did not specify a number.
Many countries have since stepped up defense engagement with Pakistan, while delegations from multiple other nations have proposed learning from Pakistan Air Force’s multi-domain air warfare capabilities that successfully demonstrated how advanced Chinese military technology performs against Western hardware.
Pakistan markets the Chinese co-developed JF-17 as a lower-cost multi-role fighter and has positioned itself as a supplier able to offer aircraft, training and maintenance outside Western supply chains.
Islamabad is in the final phases of striking a $1.5-billion deal to supply weapons and jets to Sudan in a major boost for Sudan’s army that has been battling the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, Reuters reported this week, citing a former top air force official and three sources.
The South Asian country reached a deal worth over $4 billion to sell military equipment to the Libyan National Army, Reuters report last month, citing Pakistani officials. The deal, one of Pakistan’s largest-ever weapons sales, included the sale of 16 JF-17 fighter jets and 12 Super Mushshak trainer aircraft for basic pilot training.
