Rawalpindi, July 2, 2025 – The Europe Today: In a significant step towards enhancing bilateral defence collaboration and advancing mutual strategic interests, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force (PAF), embarked on an official visit to the United States of America. Marking the first such visit by a serving PAF Air Chief in over a decade, the high-profile engagement underscored a renewed momentum in Pakistan–U.S. defence ties and served as a key milestone in strengthening institutional cooperation between the two allied air forces.
During the visit, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu held a series of high-level meetings with senior U.S. military and political leadership. At the Pentagon, he met with 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 meetings focused on expanding bilateral military cooperation, enhancing operational interoperability, and exploring opportunities for joint training and technology exchange.
Air Chief Marshal Sidhu highlighted the longstanding and multifaceted partnership between Pakistan and the United States, particularly in the domains of defence and security. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening military-to-military cooperation, especially through professional training and mutual exchange programs. Both sides agreed to continue senior-level interactions, acknowledging their crucial role in maintaining progress in joint initiatives, operational exercises, and strategic defence collaborations.
At the U.S. Department of State, the Air Chief held constructive meetings with Mr. Brown L. Stanley from the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and Mr. Eric Meyer from the Bureau of South & Central Asian Affairs. The discussions provided a platform to share Pakistan’s perspective on regional peace, its unwavering commitment to counterterrorism, and its nuanced understanding of the evolving geopolitical dynamics in South and Central Asia.
As part of his engagements on Capitol Hill, the Air Chief met with several influential members of the U.S. Congress, including Mr. Mike Turner, Mr. Rich McCormick, and Mr. Bill Huizenga. These dialogues reinforced the importance of sustained parliamentary engagement in advancing bilateral relations and allowed Pakistan to articulate its stance on regional security frameworks, strategic stability, and the role of emerging technologies in modern defence paradigms.
Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu reaffirmed Pakistan’s enduring role as a peace-loving nation and a vital contributor to regional and global stability. He underscored the Pakistan Air Force’s operational accomplishments in the global fight against terrorism and detailed the country’s evolving security priorities in response to shifting regional challenges.
This landmark visit has not only reaffirmed Pakistan Air Force’s commitment to global peace and security but also laid the foundation for reinvigorated institutional cooperation, enhanced interoperability, and a forward-looking strategic dialogue between the Pakistan Air Force and the United States Air Force.
