ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Belarus have agreed to strengthen cooperation between their Air Forces across multiple domains, including the launch of high-level exchange programmes aimed at enhancing professional development and operational capacity.
This consensus was reached at a meeting between Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and Belarus’s Commander of the Air Force and Air Defence Major General Andrei Yulianovich Lukyanovich in Islamabad on Thursday.
Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal assured that the Pakistan Air Force is committed to extending full support for the basic to tactical-level training of pilots and maintenance crews for capacity building of the Belarus Air Force.
Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu reiterated his resolve to consolidate the existing bilateral Air Force to Air Force ties between the two countries by enhancing collaboration, particularly in the areas of training, technological development and operational capability.
During the meeting, a wide array of mutual interests related to air power and military cooperation were thoroughly discussed.
The discussions also reaffirmed the mutual commitment of both nations to further strengthen their longstanding bilateral relations, with both sides agreeing to sustain close and continuous engagement between their respective Air Forces.
It is pertinent to mention that Major General Andrei Yulianovich Lukyanovich, while leading a high-level defence delegation, visited Pakistan’s Air Headquarters in Islamabad.
On his arrival, a smartly turned-out contingent of Pakistan Air Force presented Guard of Honour to Major General Andrei Yulianovich Lukyanovich.
The visiting dignitary expressed his sincere gratitude for the warm hospitality extended to him underscoring the long-standing bond of friendship between Pakistan and Belarus.
He conveyed keen interest of the Belarus Air Force in learning from Pakistan Air Force’s rich operational experience, particularly in the context of wartime operations.
He also acknowledged PAF’s professionalism and effectiveness in complex operational environments and shared his Air Force’s eagerness to draw lessons from PAF’s combat-tested doctrines and training regimes.
Major General Andrei Yulianovich Lukyanovich shared his earnest desire for structured and formal training programs to be conducted by PAF for Belarus Air Force personnel, indicating a new chapter of collaboration in capacity-building and operational proficiency.
The Belarusian Commander of the Air Force and Air Defence extended an invite to Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu seeking his participation in upcoming important and acclaimed defence-related events in Belarus, to bolster this relationship further by expanding and exploring new avenues for collaboration.
Both sides agreed to work on the modalities of the visit, with the aim of furthering the strategic dialogue and exploring new avenues for bilateral defence cooperation.
