Riyadh, January 8, 2026: Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, NI (M), HJ, held high-level meetings with Saudi defence leadership during his official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), reaffirming the commitment of both countries to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation.
During the visit, the Air Chief called on HRH Lieutenant General Turki bin Bander bin Abdulaziz, Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force, and General Fayiadh bin Hameed Al-Rowaily, Chief of the General Staff of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Upon his arrival, Air Chief Marshal Sidhu was accorded a guard of honour by a contingent of the Royal Saudi Air Force.
According to official sources, discussions during the meetings focused on bilateral defence cooperation, the regional security environment and future avenues for collaboration. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the existing level of engagement and agreed to further enhance cooperation through joint training programmes, operational collaboration and the exchange of professional expertise. The Pakistan–KSA Defence Agreement was highlighted as a symbol of mutual trust and enduring brotherly relations.
The Air Chief underscored the historic and fraternal ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, reiterating his commitment to expanding military-to-military cooperation through bilateral and multilateral exercises. He also briefed the Saudi leadership on the transformation of the Pakistan Air Force into a robust Multi-Domain Force, integrating space, cyber, electronic warfare and artificial intelligence capabilities, as demonstrated through its operational performance.
Saudi defence leaders praised the professionalism, operational excellence and combat readiness of the Pakistan Air Force and expressed keen interest in enhanced joint training and operational collaboration, particularly in the domain of Multi-Domain Operations. They also acknowledged Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability.
The visit reflects the depth of the long-standing strategic partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and underscores the shared resolve of both nations to further strengthen cooperation in the defence and aviation sectors.
