Air chief meets Uzbek defence leaders, pledges wider joint exercises

Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu held meetings with Uzbekistan's defence minister and the commander of its air defence and air force during an official visit, with both sides pledging to expand joint military exercises and training exchanges.

The meetings took place on Saturday, according to a statement posted on X by the Directorate General of Public Relations (Air Force). Pakistan Today reported the statement was issued by DGPR (Air Force); Minute Mirror attributed the same account to the Inter-Services Public Relations.

Sidhu, the Chief of the Air Staff, met Lieutenant General Botir Qudrathodjayev Bahromovich, Uzbekistan's defence minister, and Major General Burkhanov Akhmad Jamolovich, the deputy defence minister and commander of air defence and air force.

The statement said the talks with the defence minister covered regional security, existing defence ties and prospects for institutional collaboration. Sidhu described the historical, cultural and brotherly ties between the two countries as deep-rooted and presented closer defence relations as a route to regional peace and stability.

Lieutenant General Bahromovich praised the professionalism, operational prowess and combat capabilities of the Pakistan Air Force, according to the statement. He expressed interest in using PAF expertise and human resource potential to raise the operational readiness of the Uzbekistan Air Force.

The second meeting dealt with air force-to-air force cooperation, including joint military exercises, structured exchange programmes, sustained professional interaction and capacity building. Sidhu pointed to openings in pilot training from basic to tactical level, technical training for maintenance personnel and aerospace-related technologies.

Both sides reaffirmed a commitment to improving operational readiness and widening collaboration in emerging technologies by drawing on their respective expertise and technical capabilities.

The visit comes alongside other attempts by the two countries to widen cooperation. On September 3, Power Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said the two countries had significant potential in the energy sector, including electricity connectivity, renewable energy, hydropower, energy infrastructure and investment, Pakistan Today reported. The outlet also cited a June 24 statement in which the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to regional connectivity, economic cooperation and cultural exchange.