Islamabad, 10 August 2022 (TDI): Lieutenant General Ahmed Jasim Maarij Abdullah Al Zayid, Commander Iraqi Navy, called on Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force.
During the meeting, the dignitaries discussed matters of professional and mutual interest.
While appreciating the professionalism of the Pakistan Air Force, Lieutenant General Ahmed Jasim Maarij Abdullah Al Zayid acknowledged PAF’s rising indigenous capacity in the aviation industry.
The Air Chief said Pakistan and Iraq have long-standing religious, cultural, and historical bonds manifested through strong military ties between the two countries.
The Air Chief further said, “Pakistan values its deep-rooted relations with Iraq, which are based on convergence on all important issues relating to operations & training, evolving paradigm of warfare, emerging technological challenges, counter security measures and regional peace & stability.”
Pakistan- Iraq Defence Ties
Pakistan and Iraq enjoy deep-rooted relations on various dimensions. Defense ties are important in the contours of relations.
Both countries regularly have the highest level of visits from both sides to discuss bilateral defense ties.
The two countries can potentially benefit from the level of cooperation in countering terrorism, particularly in sharing expertise, intelligence, training, and capacity building of their law enforcement agencies.
The visits of the Minister of Defence Production to Iraq in January 2021, reciprocal visit of the Minister of Defence of Iraq to Islamabad in February 2021, then visit of the Minister of Religious Affairs and Chief of Army Staff to Iraq in March 2021, and then visit of the Foreign Minister of Pakistan to Iraq in May 2021, similarly a visit of the Minister of Defence from Pakistan to Iraq and his meeting with the President of Iraq, meetings of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the two countries and later important visit of the Prime Minister of Iraq to Islamabad reflect the increase in the bilateral cooperation at all dimensions and spheres.
Both countries support each other at various levels of the international forums, including the UN and OIC. The relations are on an upward trajectory and will continue to grow in the coming days.
