ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome called on Pakistan Air Force (PAF) chief Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu on Tuesday to discuss enhancing military-to-military cooperation between both sides, the PAF said.
Islamabad and Washington were close allies during the Cold War and have jointly worked on a wide spectrum of issues ranging from regional stability to fighting militancy, particularly during the war in Afghanistan.
However, their ties deteriorated over the past few years, especially when US-led international coalition forces exited Afghanistan and the Taliban seized power in Kabul. Washington blamed Pakistan for providing sanctuary to Taliban militants, an allegation strongly denied by Islamabad.
However, ties between the two countries have improved since former prime minister Imran Khan was removed via a no-confidence vote in April 2022. In December last year, Pakistan’s army chief General Syed Asim Munir met high-ranking US government and military officials during his first official visit to the country.
“During the meeting, both dignitaries expressed their mutual desire to elevate the training momentum between the two sides through enhanced collaboration in air force to air force mutual exercises,” the PAF statement said.
It said both sides emphasized the importance of fostering a “robust exchange” of delegations and knowledge sharing to bolster the capabilities of the American and Pakistani air forces.
“The discussion also centered around collaboration in the recently established techno parks, with a focus on leveraging technological advancements to enhance operational effectiveness and efficiency,” the PAF said.
Both sides also discussed fortifying existing ties and exploring new avenues for joint ventures and strategic partnerships, the statement added.
“Pakistan deeply values its robust diplomatic, economic and defense ties with the United States of America which are firmly rooted in mutual consensus concerning all important matters pertaining to regional peace, security and stability,” Sidhu was quoted as saying by the PAF.
Blome, on the other hand, admired Pakistan’s “unwavering commitment” to facilitate regional peace and stability, the statement said.
“Both sides concurred to further optimize the existing military-to-military relationship between the two countries with a specific focus on enriching training and bolstering operational competencies,” it said.