Pakistan vows to provide capacity-building assistance, training to Rwanda’s air force

Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu (R) in a meeting with Rwanda's Air Chief Let. Gen. Jean Jacques Mupenzi at the Air Headquarters in Islamabad, Pakistan on February 12, 2024. (ISPR)
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Updated 12 February 2025
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Pakistan vows to provide capacity-building assistance, training to Rwanda’s air force

  • Rwandan air chief Let. Gen. Jean Jacques Mupenzi meets Pakistani counterpart with high-level delegation in Islamabad 
  • His visit reflects Rwanda’s desire to restructure air force using Pakistan’s professional expertise, says military’s media wing 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu on Wednesday reiterated his unwavering support to provide capacity building assistance to Rwanda’s air force and share his force’s operational training expertise with the African country to help meet its security challenges, the military’s media wing said. 

A high-level defense delegation from Rwanda led by Rwanda Air Chief Let. Gen. Jean Jacques Mupenzi called on Sidhu at the Air Headquarters in Islamabad, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. 

Sidhu shared insights into various ongoing modernization projects of the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) operational construct, force goals and plans for the force structure with a keen focus on future warfare, the ISPR said. 

“The Air Chief reiterated PAF’s unwavering support to provide capacity-building assistance to the Rwandan Air Force in upgradation of its human resource, maintenance parameters and operational training,” the ISPR said. 

Mupenzi admired PAF’s professional training standards, modernized infrastructure and multi-domain capabilities, the military’s media wing said. The Rwandan air chief emphasized the need for a major overhaul and collaboration to enhance the capabilities of Rwanda’s Air Force with assistance from the PAF to meet “contemporary security challenges,” the ISPR said.

“The visiting dignitary also expressed a strong desire for a partnership with Pakistan Air Force aimed at establishing comprehensive training programs for basic-level training of aircrew and technical training of ground crew of Rwandan Air Force,” the ISPR said. 

The delegation was given a detailed briefing on the PAF’s operational capabilities during their visit to the National ISR & Integrated Air Operations Center and PAF Cyber Command in Islamabad, the ISPR said.

“This visit of Lt. Gen. Jean Jacques Mupenzi to Air Headquarters, Islamabad is testament to strong desire of Rwandan side to restructure their Air Force, utilizing the professional expertise of Pakistan Air Force,” the military’s media wing said. 


Pakistan begins preparations to host 2026 OIC ministerial conference on women

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Pakistan begins preparations to host 2026 OIC ministerial conference on women

  • Deputy PM Ishaq Dar says Pakistan is committed to advancing gender equality within the OIC framework
  • He says Pakistan seeks to strengthen and expand cooperation on women’s issues across the Muslim world

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has begun preparations to host the 9th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ministerial Conference on Women in 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Monday, marking the start of inter-ministerial coordination for one of the bloc’s top policy forums on gender issues.

The conference, held approximately every three to four years, gathers ministers from OIC member states to review progress on women’s rights, share national policies and adopt new frameworks.

Previous ministerial meetings have focused on themes such as women’s economic empowerment, combating gender-based violence, and improving access to education and health.

“Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 chaired a meeting to review preparations for 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, to be hosted by Pakistan in 2026,” the foreign office said in a social media post.

“The DPM/FM underscored the importance of successfully organizing the conference through close coordination with the OIC Secretariat and relevant Ministries,” it added.

He highlighted Pakistan’s “proactive role” in advancing gender equality within the OIC and said hosting the 2026 gathering reflected the country’s commitment to strengthening cooperation on women’s issues across the Muslim world.

Senior ministers, secretaries from key federal divisions, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the OIC and other officials attended the meeting, which discussed preparatory arrangements and coordination needs.

While Pakistan has confirmed its role as host, no dates, venue or thematic agenda for the 2026 conference have yet been announced.

The previous OIC ministerial conference on women was held in Cairo in 2021, and focused on women’s empowerment, protection frameworks and socio-economic participation.