Islamabad , 08 January (H.S.): Pakistan's air force chief hosted his Bangladeshi counterpart on Tuesday, in Islamabad for high-level deliberations centered on potential procurement of the Sino-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder lightweight multirole fighter jets, alongside broader aviation collaboration, as announced by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday .

Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu reaffirmed Islamabad's commitment to bolstering Dhaka's capabilities through expedited delivery of Super Mushshak trainers and comprehensive training regimens spanning basic flight instruction to advanced combat maneuvers at Pakistan Air Force academies.

This engagement underscores burgeoning military synergy between the erstwhile adversaries, catalyzed by Bangladesh's political upheaval in August 2024 that ousted Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government.

Aircraft Specifications and Combat PedigreeThe JF-17 Thunder, a fourth-generation, single-engine jet co-developed by China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex since 2007, boasts a maximum speed of Mach 1.6, a combat radius exceeding 1,200 kilometers, and an arsenal encompassing air-to-air missiles like the PL-12, precision-guided munitions, and anti-ship ordnance.

Pakistan touts its battlefield mettle from the brief May 7-10, 2025, skirmish with India—termed Op Sindoor in regional discourse—wherein JF-17s allegedly neutralized Indian assets, though independent verification remains elusive amid conflicting claims; concurrently, Chengdu J-10C platforms saw extensive deployment by the Pakistan Air Force.

Delegation's Ambitious Agenda

Leading a senior defence contingent, Bangladesh Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan toured pivotal PAF installations, lauding the host's operational prowess and soliciting expertise in fleet sustainment for Dhaka's aging inventory, radar integration for augmented surveillance, and aerospace innovation.

Sidhu pledged a holistic support matrix, including maintenance overhauls and long-term logistical ecosystems, positioning the JF-17 as a cost-effective upgrade to Bangladesh's MiG-29 Fulcrums and F-7PG interceptors amid fiscal prudence. ISPR characterized the overtures as emblematic of strong historical ties evolving into a long-term strategic partnership.

Geopolitical Realignment Post-1971 Rift

Relations, fractured since Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War against Pakistani forces, have thawed decisively under Muhammad Yunus's interim stewardship, supplanting Hasina's administration—whose 2010 war crimes tribunals targeting 1971 collaborators had exacerbated tensions.

Recent milestones include Dhaka's planned resumption of direct flights to Islamabad from January 29, 2026, and shared cricketing rhetoric against India in T20 World Cup venue disputes. Dhaka's overture arrives as it diversifies procurement beyond Russian and Western suppliers, eyeing JF-17's proven export success in Myanmar, Nigeria, and Azerbaijan while navigating India's regional preponderance.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar