ISLAMABAD, JUN 9 /DNA/ – Commander Bahrain National Guard, General Shaikh Mohammed Bin Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, called on Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, during his visit to Air Headquarters, Islamabad. During the meeting, both dignitaries discussed matters of mutual interest, with a keen focus on enhancing bilateral defence cooperation and professional collaboration between the Armed Forces of the two brotherly countries.

The Air Chief highlighted Pakistan Air Force’s ongoing modernization drive, encompassing capability enhancement, infrastructure development, indigenization and transformation of training paradigms to meet the demands of contemporary warfare. He also underscored the deep-rooted fraternal ties between Pakistan and Bahrain as a strong foundation for enduring cooperation. A key focus of the discussions was the evolving domain of drone warfare, with both sides exchanging insights on the expanding role of unmanned systems in modern military operations and their transformative impact on future battlefields amid ongoing regional security challenges. Both Commanders also deliberated on emerging technologies, highlighting the transformative impact of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, advanced sensors and digital innovation in shaping next-generation defence capabilities. Reaffirming PAF’s commitment to further expanding bilateral engagement, Chief of the Air Staff stated, “Pakistan deeply values its longstanding diplomatic, economic and defence relationship with the Kingdom of Bahrain. Our partnership is anchored in mutual trust, shared interests and a common commitment towards regional peace, security and stability.”

The visiting dignitary lauded the professionalism of PAF and commended its achievements in modernization, indigenous capability development and operational excellence under the leadership of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu. Expressing keen interest in expanding Air Force-to-Air Force cooperation, he acknowledged PAF’s multi-domain capabilities and conveyed Bahrain’s interest in benefiting from PAF’s expertise in training and emerging warfare domains. Recognising the increasingly complex nature of modern aerial threats, both sides discussed the contemporary Air Defence environment, emphasizing the need for adaptive strategies and integrated defence architectures to counter evolving challenges. Commander Bahrain National Guard also lauded the advanced technological infrastructure of National Aerospace Science & Technology Park while expressing a strong desire to leverage PAF’s expertise in niche technologies in order to enhance futuristic aerospace and aviation capabilities of the Armed Forces of Bahrain.

The meeting between Chief of the Air Staff and Commander Bahrain National Guard reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan and Bahrain to strengthening defence ties and promoting regional peace & security through enhanced military cooperation.