Senior Pakistani Air Force officer visits Dhaka as Bangladesh continues to expand ties with Islamabad

Deputy Chief of Staff of the Pakistan Air Force Strategic Command Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed is currently visiting Bangladesh with a delegation coinciding with the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor as Dhaka continued to expand its engagement with Islamabad.

Amid the ongoing training of Bangladesh civil servants in Lahore and visit of Pakistan Home Minister to Dhaka, Aurangzeb, who led the Pakistan Air Force so called "retaliation" during Operation Sindoor, is visiting Dhaka, according to persons familiar with the visit. Last week, he was honoured at a special ceremony held at Air Headquarters in Islamabad to mark the first anniversary of “Marka-e-Haq” (Day of the Battle of Truth).

Also Read: Bangladesh and Pakistan sign anti-narcotics cooperation MoU


During the tenure of the previous interim government, the Bangladesh Air Force and the Pakistan Air Force reached an understanding on advanced training for pilots and technicians. In this regard an agreement is expected to be formally finalised within this month, said persons familiar with Pak-Bangla ties.

There are reports that Bangladesh is also interested in acquiring Pakistan’s JF-17 fighter jets. The JF-17 Thunder is a single-engine, lightweight combat aircraft jointly developed by China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex. There have been several exchanges between the armed forces of the two countries since the then PM Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power in street protests in August 2024.

Last week, Bangladesh and Pakistan agreed to strengthen coordinated efforts to combat narcotics trafficking through information sharing, joint intelligence operations and capacity-building initiatives, ET reported.

Also Read: Bangladesh sends officials to Pakistan for training

On Friday the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in preventing illegal drug trafficking, money laundering, and drug abuse. Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Pakistan Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi signed the document that will remain valid for 10 years. Two governments will also collaborate on training and capacity building of officials involved in narcotics control.