Pakistan says Bangladesh interested in buying JF-17 fighter jets
DHAKA: Demonstrating Dhaka’s efforts to get closer to Islamabad, Bangladesh has expressed a “potential interest” in procuring the JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft from Pakistan, besides resuming direct flights between the two countries from Jan 29, after over a decade.
JF-17 — jointly developed by China and Pakistan — was used against India during the May 7-10 hostilities by Pakistan — a combat aircraft, which IAF chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh in Nov last year said was among the “at least five high-tech Pakistani fighters” shot down during Operation Sindoor.
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“Detailed discussions were held on the ‘potential procurement’ of JF-17 Thunder aircraft,” the Pakistan military's media wing ISPR said in a statement following a meeting between Bangladesh air force chief Hasan Mahmood Khan and his Pakistani counterpart Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu in Islamabad on Tuesday. “The meeting focused on strengthening operational cooperation and institutional synergy, with emphasis on training, capacity building, and collaboration in aerospace advancements,” ISPR said, an indication of warming relations between Islamabad and. However, there was no statement from Bangladesh.
In civil aviation, Bangladesh’s national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh will launch direct flights on the Dhaka–Karachi–Dhaka route from Jan 29. The airline said it will operate two weekly services. Biman officials said that discussions with Pakistani authorities had been ongoing for several months to restart the route, which will mark the first direct Dhaka–Karachi flights since 2012.
JF-17 — jointly developed by China and Pakistan — was used against India during the May 7-10 hostilities by Pakistan — a combat aircraft, which IAF chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh in Nov last year said was among the “at least five high-tech Pakistani fighters” shot down during Operation Sindoor.
“Detailed discussions were held on the ‘potential procurement’ of JF-17 Thunder aircraft,” the Pakistan military's media wing ISPR said in a statement following a meeting between Bangladesh air force chief Hasan Mahmood Khan and his Pakistani counterpart Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu in Islamabad on Tuesday. “The meeting focused on strengthening operational cooperation and institutional synergy, with emphasis on training, capacity building, and collaboration in aerospace advancements,” ISPR said, an indication of warming relations between Islamabad and. However, there was no statement from Bangladesh.
In civil aviation, Bangladesh’s national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh will launch direct flights on the Dhaka–Karachi–Dhaka route from Jan 29. The airline said it will operate two weekly services. Biman officials said that discussions with Pakistani authorities had been ongoing for several months to restart the route, which will mark the first direct Dhaka–Karachi flights since 2012.
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