Islamabad (TDI): Chief of the Pakistan Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber, visited the United States and undertook important meetings, including one with Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.Â
After COAS Asim Munir’s meeting with Trump last month, this is the second visit involving a forces chief; also the first by a serving PAF Chief in over a decade. The visit indicates an opening up in defense ties between Pakistan and the US, after a considerable freeze time.Â
According to a statement released by the Director General of Public Relations (DGPR) of the PAF, on Wednesday: “During the visit, the Chief of the Air Staff held a series of high-level meetings with senior US military and political leadership.”
Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu Undertakes Landmark Visit to United States, Holds High-Level Meetings at Pentagon, State Department and Capitol Hill pic.twitter.com/DOS4218sM7
— DGPR (AIR FORCE) (@DGPR_PAF) July 1, 2025
“At the Pentagon, he called on Ms. Kelli L. Seybolt, Secretary of the Air Force (International Affairs), and General David W. Allvin, Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force… the discussions centered around advancing bilateral military cooperation, enhancing interoperability and exploring avenues of joint training & technology exchange,” the statement further said.Â
At the US State Department, the Air Chief met with the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Brown L. Stanley and the Bureau of South & Central Asian Affairs, Eric Meyer.
During engagements at Capitol Hill, the Air Chief held dialogues with prominent members of the US Congress including Mike Turner, Rich McCormick and Bill Huizenga.
Pakistan’s views on strategic challenges, regional security frameworks and the impact of emerging technologies on defense cooperation were discussed during defense-level meetings.Â
PAF’s combat professionalism is being widely recognized worldwide since May’s confrontation between India and Pakistan. The air battle is being studied closely by defense and strategy professionals, while the deployment of a real time ABC aerial defense system by PAF is being hailed as a first in modern aerial warfare.
An IR student whose interest lies in diplomacy and current affairs and a part time debater
