Key Points
- Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu meets his Romanian counterpart in Bucharest
- Both sides agree on joint exercises, training exchanges, and defence-industrial links
- Romania lauds PAF’s professionalism and indigenous progress under current leadership
- Visit marks milestone in Pakistan-Romania military partnership amid regional shifts
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu met Lieutenant General Leonard-Gabriel Baraboi, head of the Romanian Air Force, during an official visit to Bucharest aimed at expanding bilateral defence cooperation, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Wednesday.
According to the ISPR statement issued from Rawalpindi, the Pakistani delegation was received at the Romanian Air Force Headquarters, where a Guard of Honour was presented on arrival. During detailed discussions, both commanders reviewed ways to strengthen operational cooperation, including joint air exercises, exchange programmes, and training of air and ground crew.
The two sides also exchanged views on regional security dynamics and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing stability through deeper defence ties. Lieutenant General Baraboi praised what he termed “the professionalism of the Pakistan Air Force,” citing its operational achievements and its strides in indigenisation under current leadership.
ISPR said both parties agreed to establish institutional frameworks to sustain collaboration and address shared aerial defence challenges. Talks also covered opportunities for cooperation in advanced aerospace technologies and defence-industrial development.
Defence observers told The News International that Pakistan’s outreach to European partners like Romania underscores a “strategic diversification” in its military diplomacy, aimed at technological exchange and broadening international training networks.
ISPR described the visit as “a significant milestone” in Pakistan-Romania defence relations, reflecting both nations’ commitment to peace, development, and enhanced military collaboration in a rapidly evolving global security environment.
