On January 15, 2025, a high-level defense delegation from Bangladesh, led by Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division, Lieutenant General S. M. Kamrul Hassan, called on the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, at Air Headquarters (AHQ) Islamabad. The meeting focused on matters of mutual interest, exploring avenues to enhance bilateral military cooperation, joint training, and technological collaboration in the aerospace domain.

During the meeting, CAS highlighted the strong fraternal relationship between Pakistan and Bangladesh, rooted in shared religious, cultural, and historical ties. He also discussed the significance of mutual training and technological collaboration amid ongoing regional and global challenges. He reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing the military partnership between the two Air Forces through joint training initiatives. These initiatives will include providing basic to tactical-level training for Bangladeshi aircrew. The dignitaries also agreed to explore avenues for high-level collaboration to strengthen the existing military ties between both countries. The formal understanding at the Air Force-to-Air Force level on training programs, exchange initiatives, and joint training was also discussed by both commanders.
Lieutenant General S. M. Kamrul Hassan lauded the innovative projects, cutting-edge technologies, and indigenously developed technological framework of the PAF under the current leadership. He expressed his keen desire to strengthen the existing bilateral relations between the two Air Forces by fostering enhanced collaboration in the training domain through mutual visits and exchange programs. The dignitary also expressed profound interest in the sophisticated military hardware being developed, notably the JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, and emphasized the need to initiate the formal process for technical and technological assessment of the platform. To this end, a formal invitation would be extended for an evaluation team visit to Pakistan.
Earlier, the dignitary visited various installations and advanced infrastructure at AHQ, Islamabad, including the National ISR & Integrated Air Operations Centre and PAF Cyber Command, where he was briefed on the operational capabilities of the PAF. The meeting between CAS and the Bangladeshi defense delegation signifies a resolute commitment to reinforcing the military partnership, fostering collaboration, and promoting robust relations between the two countries.