ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief met the head of the Bangladesh Air Force on Thursday, the military said, as the two countries stepped up high-level military engagement, underscoring closer defense ties at a time of strained relations between Dhaka and New Delhi.
Pakistan and Bangladesh have moved closer since August 2024 after the ouster of former premier Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after a violent uprising. New Delhi has angered Dhaka by not accepting its repeated requests to extradite the former Bangladeshi premier. The recent lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh has also strained its ties with India.
Bangladesh Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan called on Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan’s chief of defense forces, at the General Headquarters of the military in Rawalpindi.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security dynamics and avenues for enhancing bilateral defense and military cooperation were discussed,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan military’s media wing, said in a statement.
“Both sides underscored the importance of strengthening professional collaboration, training exchanges and defense ties between the Armed Forces of Pakistan and Bangladesh.”
Khan appreciated Pakistan’s armed forces for their contributions toward regional peace and stability, the ISPR said. Munir reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to fostering enduring defense relations with Bangladesh, the statement added.
Earlier in the day, Khan met Pakistan Navy chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf at the Naval Headquarters in Islamabad. Both discussed the evolving regional security paradigm and strengthening their bilateral defense cooperation, the ISPR said.
On Wednesday, Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and Khan held talks on the possible procurement of the JF-17 Thunder, a multi-role combat aircraft jointly developed with China, in Islamabad.
Pakistan has fought three wars against India since both countries gained independence from British rule in 1947.
The two nuclear-armed neighbors engaged in the worst fighting between them since 1999 in May last year, pounding each other with missiles, drone strikes, fighter jets and exchanging artillery fire before US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire on May 10.
Pakistan has since eyed bolstering its defense capabilities with traditional allies Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Azerbaijan and others.
