Bangladesh has held discussions with Pakistan on the possible procurement of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets during a high-level meeting between the air chiefs of two countries in Islamabad.
The matter came up when Bangladesh Air Force Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan met Pakistan Air Force Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu on Tuesday, according to a statement issued by Pakistan Inter Services Public Relations.
The Bangladesh air chief led a senior defence delegation during the visit, which focused on deepening cooperation between the two air forces, particularly in training, capacity building and aerospace collaboration.
According to the statement, this meeting reviewed ways to strengthen operational cooperation and institutional synergy, with emphasis on professional training, human resource development and future-oriented defence collaboration.
During the engagement, Air Chief Marshal Sidhu briefed his Bangladeshi counterpart on recent developments within the PAF and reiterated the country’s commitment to supporting the Bangladesh Air Force through structured training programmes ranging from basic to advanced flying and specialised courses.
He also assured expedited delivery of Super Mushshak trainer aircraft, alongside a complete training package and long-term support framework, the statement said.
According to Pakistan ISPR, the Bangladeshi air chief appreciated the Pakistan Air Force’s operational experience and combat record, and expressed interest in drawing on that expertise to address maintenance challenges of Bangladesh Air Force’s ageing fleet.
He also sought cooperation in the integration of air defence radar systems to strengthen Bangladesh’s air surveillance capability, the statement added.
The two sides held detailed discussions on the potential acquisition of the JF-17 Thunder, a multi-role fighter aircraft jointly developed by China and Pakistan, which Pakistan says has demonstrated its combat capability during conflicts with India in 2019 and 2025.
The visiting delegation was accorded a guard of honour and also toured key Pakistan Air Force facilities during the visit.
The statement said the visit highlighted the longstanding defence relationship between Bangladesh and Pakistan and reflected a shared intention to further expand military cooperation and build a sustained strategic partnership.
