ISLAMABAD: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has accepted an invitation to visit Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday, following a telephonic conversation between the two leaders.
Pakistan and Egypt have cordial ties and both countries have resolved in recent years to enhance bilateral trade by facilitating businessmen with visas, exchanging trade-related information and promoting private-sector contacts.
During their conversation, PM Sharif conveyed his profound gratitude to President El-Sisi for Egypt’s constructive role and proactive diplomacy that helped Pakistan and India reach a truce after a four-day standoff.
“Expressing satisfaction on Pakistan-Egypt relations, the prime minister highlighted the need to enhance bilateral trade and investment,” Sharif’s office said.
“The prime minister extended a most cordial invitation to the Egyptian president to undertake an official visit to Pakistan which was graciously accepted.”
Friendly ties between Pakistan and Egypt can be traced back to 1947, when the former gained independence and its founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, visited Egypt on the special invitation of King Fuad II.
In July last year, Pakistan’s then religious affairs minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Egyptian Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Ihab Abdelhamid Hassan agreed to enhance cooperation between the two countries in religious education and other areas of mutual interest.
During the call on Tuesday, PM Sharif and President El-Sisi also discussed developments in the Middle East, particularly the situation in Gaza.
“The prime minister urged the international community to ensure consistent and timely delivery of badly needed humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza,” Sharif’s office said.
Egyptian president has accepted invitation for official visit to Pakistan — PM Sharif
https://arab.news/5ahmj
Egyptian president has accepted invitation for official visit to Pakistan — PM Sharif
- Pakistan and Egypt have cordial relations and both countries have resolved in recent years to enhance their bilateral trade
- PM thanks President El-Sisi for Egypt’s proactive diplomacy that helped Pakistan, India reach a truce after this month’s standoff
Islamabad says surge in aircraft orders after India standoff could end IMF reliance
- Pakistani jets came into the limelight after Islamabad claimed to have shot down six Indian aircraft during a standoff in May last year
- Many countries have since stepped up engagement with Pakistan, while others have proposed learning from PAF’s multi-domain capabilities
ISLAMABAD: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday said Pakistan has witnessed a surge in aircraft orders after a four-day military standoff with India last year and, if materialized, they could end the country’s reliance on the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The statement came hours after a high-level Bangladeshi defense delegation met Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu to discuss a potential sale of JF-17 Thunder aircraft, a multi-role fighter jointly developed by China and Pakistan that has become the backbone of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) over the past decade.
Fighter jets used by Pakistan came into the limelight after Islamabad claimed to have shot down six Indian aircraft, including French-made Rafale jets, during the military conflict with India in May last year. India acknowledged losses in the aerial combat 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 advanced Chinese military technology performs against Western hardware.
“Right now, the number of orders we are receiving after reaching this point is significant because our aircraft have been tested,” Defense Minister Asif told a Pakistan’s Geo News channel.
“We are receiving those orders, and it is possible that after six months we may not even need the IMF.”
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.
“I am saying this to you with full confidence,” Asif continued. “If, after six months, all these orders materialize, we will not need the IMF.”
Pakistan has repeatedly turned to the IMF for financial assistance to stabilize its economy. These loans come with strict conditions including fiscal reforms, subsidy cuts and measures to increase revenue that Pakistan must implement to secure disbursements.
In Sept. 2024, the IMF approved a $7 billion bailout for Pakistan under its Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program and a separate $1.4 billion loan under its climate resilience fund in May 2025, aimed at strengthening the country’s economic and climate resilience.
Pakistan has long been striving to expand defense exports by leveraging its decades of counter-insurgency experience and a domestic industry that produces aircraft, armored vehicles, munitions and other equipment.
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 Mushak trainer aircraft for basic pilot training.
