ISLAMABAD — Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu on Saturday held meetings with Uzbekistan's defence leadership on an official visit to the country, with discussions focusing on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, joint military exercises and institutional collaboration. In a statement posted on X, the DGPR (Air Force) said that discussions with Uzbek Defence Minister Lieutenant General Botir Qudrathodjayev Bahromovich focused on "regional security, existing defence ties and prospects for institutional collaboration".
AIR CHIEF HOLDS HIGH-LEVEL MEETINGS WITH UZBEKISTAN'S DEFENCE AND AIR FORCE LEADERSHIP 14 November, 2026: Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, during his official visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan, held high-level meetings... "Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, NI (M), HJ, Chief of the Air Staff, during his official visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan, held high-level meetings with Lieutenant General Botir Qudrathodjayev Bahromovich, Defence Minister and Major General Burkhanov Akhmad Jamolovich, Deputy Defence Minister and Commander of Air Defence & Air Force of Uzbekistan." Uzbekistan eye stronger bilateral ties It added that Lieutenant General Bahromovich lauded the professionalism, operational prowess and combat capabilities of the Pakistan Air Force. The DGPR (Air Force) stated that in the subsequent meeting with the Uzbek deputy defence minister and commander of Air Defence and Air Force of Uzbekistan, Major General Burkhanov Akhmad Jamolovich, the discussion focused on enhancing bilateral defence cooperation through joint military exercises, structured professional exchanges and capacity building.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing "operational readiness" and collaboration in emerging technologies by leveraging their respective expertise and capabilities. The statement further noted that Air Chief Sidhu highlighted the deep-rooted brotherly ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan. On September 3, Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said that Pakistan and Uzbekistan had vast potential to expand cooperation in the energy sector, particularly in electricity connectivity, renewable energy, hydropower, energy infrastructure and investment.