Pakistan's Unusual Military Diplomacy: What PAF Chief's Recent Engagements With Several Nations Mean

Last Updated:January 12, 2026, 14:53 IST

Pakistan Air Chief Marshal Sidhu visited the United States in July 2025, marking the first visit by a serving PAF chief in over a decade.

A central figure in this outreach was Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), whose visits spanned key capitals and defence platforms through 2025 and early 2026.

Pakistan’s military leadership stepped on to the global stage in 2025, with a series of foreign engagements that pointed to an unusual phase of military diplomacy. At a time when Pakistan faced domestic political uncertainty and economic stress, these overseas visits reflected how Rawalpindi sought to engage external partners directly on security, economic, and geopolitical issues.

From Washington and Beijing to the Gulf and Eastern Europe, the engagements combined security outreach with bargaining over training, interoperability, defence trade, and regional positioning. CNN-News18 traces how Pakistan’s military leadership attempted to recalibrate its external posture amid regional crises, great-power competition, and shifting post-conflict realities.

A central figure in this outreach was Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), whose visits spanned key capitals and defence platforms through 2025 and early 2026.

1 July 2025 — United States

Air Chief Marshal Sidhu visited the United States, marking the first visit by a serving PAF chief in over a decade. He met senior US officials, including Secretary of the Air Force (International Affairs) Ms Kelli L Seybolt, US Air Force Chief of Staff General David W Allvin, and officials at the Pentagon, State Department, and Capitol Hill.

The discussions focused on bilateral defence cooperation, interoperability, joint training, technology exchange, regional security, and counterterrorism. The visit came amid broader US efforts to reassess military partnerships in South Asia while managing competition with China.

8 April 2025 — China

In Beijing, the PAF chief met Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun, PLA Air Force Commander General Chang Dingqiu, and other senior military officials, including Major General Cao Xiaojian.

The meetings centred on strengthening strategic military cooperation and expanding practical collaboration in training, joint exercises, and strategic communication. The talks also addressed regional and global security challenges, reflecting the continued defence alignment between Beijing and Islamabad.

22–23 October 2025 — Romania

Pakistan’s outreach extended to Eastern Europe with a visit to Romania. At Romanian Air Force Headquarters, Air Chief Marshal Sidhu met Lieutenant General Leonard-Gabriel Baraboi, Chief of the Romanian Air Force Staff, and other senior officials.

The agenda included bilateral defence ties, operational cooperation, joint air exercises, exchange programmes, and training of air and ground crew. The engagement indicated Pakistan’s efforts to broaden defence contacts beyond its traditional partners.

20 November 2025 — United Arab Emirates (Dubai Airshow)

On the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow, held from 17–21 November, the PAF chief held meetings with air chiefs from friendly countries and UAE defence officials, including Lt Gen Pilot Ibrahim Nasser Al-Alawi and Major General Rashid Mohammed Al-Shamsi.

Discussions covered military-to-military cooperation, joint exercises, professional exchanges, airpower development, and aerospace technologies. Pakistan also used the platform to promote defence exports, including the JF-17 Thunder, with a memorandum of understanding signed with a friendly country for procurement.

8 January 2026 — Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, Air Chief Marshal Sidhu met HRH Lt Gen Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force, and General Fayiadh bin Hameed Al-Rowaily, Chief of the General Staff.

The talks focused on expanding defence cooperation, joint training, operational collaboration, interoperability, and regional security, underscoring longstanding military ties between the two countries.

10 January 2026 — Iraq

In Iraq, the PAF chief met Iraqi Air Force Commander Lt Gen Mohanad Ghalib Mohammed Radi Al-Asadi. Discussions centred on military cooperation and joint training.

Iraq expressed interest in acquiring JF-17 Thunder fighter jets and Super Mushshak trainer aircraft, citing Pakistan Air Force experience and operational capability.

Taken together, these engagements highlight how Pakistan’s military leadership used defence diplomacy to engage multiple regions simultaneously, navigating security concerns, defence trade opportunities, and shifting geopolitical alignments without a parallel civilian diplomatic push.

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