PAF head’s US trip highlights new era in defence diplomacy
By The Taurean
Soon after Gen Asim Munir’s visit to White House, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Babar Sidhu holds a series of meetings in Washington that may mark a turning point in military ties between Pakistan and the US
NEWS ANALYSIS
July 4, 2025
IN a fresh indication that Pakistan’s military has gained renewed credibility in Washington’s official circles following its excellent performance in the recent war with India, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer A. Babar Sidhu, the head of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), paid a high-profile visit to the United States in early July. His visit came just twelve days after Army Chief General Asim Munir’s unprecedented luncheon meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House — the first such reception for a serving Pakistani army chief in decades.
While Gen Munir’s meeting with the US president had a personal and symbolic overtone, Air Chief Marshal Sidhu’s engagements in Washington were characterised by a more institutional and policy-oriented focus. His visit marked the first by a serving PAF chief in more than ten years, and — as noted by the PAF’s Directorate General of Public Relations (DGPR) — it represented a “strategic milestone” in Pakistan-US defence cooperation.
Though it remains unclear whether the visits were initiated by Islamabad or by Washington, the close timing of the two engagements suggests a renewed appetite on both sides to explore deeper military and strategic dialogue. The level and frequency of interaction point to a shared recognition of shifting regional realities and overlapping defence interests.
In a series of meetings with US defence and government officials, Air Marshal Sidhu received assurances of Washington’s openness to reinvigorating defence ties. He met with Secretary Kelli L. Seybolt, responsible for International Affairs at the US Air Force, and General David W. Allvin, Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, at the Pentagon. Discussions centred on enhancing military interoperability, expanding joint training programmes, and exploring technology exchange.
According to the DGPR, the air chief highlighted the historical depth of Pakistan-US military relations, particularly in the domains of defence and security. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s intent to strengthen cooperation and stressed the importance of ongoing senior-level dialogue to maintain strategic momentum. Ends
The visit carries additional weight given that Pakistan-US defence relations had stagnated in recent years. During both the first Trump administration and Joe Biden’s presidency, engagement with Pakistani military officials was markedly limited. In that context, Air Chief Marshal Sidhu’s Washington trip — and the high-level access it involved — signals a potential thaw.
What makes the visit even more significant is the PAF’s existing and robust cooperation with China. While China has been a long-term defence partner, particularly in aircraft development, closer ties with the United States would give the PAF an opportunity to tap into both Eastern and Western military ecosystems. This dual alignment could enable Pakistani airmen to stay abreast of global advances in aviation and military technology.
At the US State Department, Air Marshal Sidhu met Brown L. Stanley from the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and Eric Meyer from the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. These meetings allowed the PAF officials to share Pakistan’s strategic outlook, reaffirm its commitment to counterterrorism, and present its views on the evolving geopolitical dynamics in South and Central Asia.
As part of his engagements on Capitol Hill, the air chief also held substantive discussions with members of the US Congress, including Mike Turner, Rich McCormick and Bill Huizenga. These conversations reportedly served to reinforce the value of robust bilateral engagement and allowed the PAF to articulate its perspective on regional threats, technological innovation in warfare, and strategic stability.
Importantly, the air chief reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace and highlighted its record of sacrifice and operational success in the global war on terror. He also offered insights into how Pakistan’s security calculus is adapting to a rapidly evolving regional landscape.
The DGPR described the visit as a “landmark” moment that not only reaffirmed the PAF’s commitment to regional and global peace, but also laid the groundwork for expanded interoperability, strategic dialogue, and institutional collaboration between the two air forces.
Whether these back-to-back engagements were part of a broader outreach by Pakistan or an initiative driven by Washington, they reflect a mutual willingness to re-engage. In the context of shifting alliances and emerging threats, such high-level military diplomacy may well signal a new phase in the US-Pakistan defence relationship.