Pakistan, Indonesia reaffirm commitment to expanding defence ties

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan and Indonesia on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to expanding defence cooperation, with a strong focus on training collaboration, institutional linkages, and defence industrial partnerships, during a high-level meeting at General Headquarters (GHQ).

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Indonesia, called on Syed Asim Munir, Field Marshal, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).

During the meeting, both sides discussed matters of mutual interest, evolving regional and global security dynamics, and practical avenues to further strengthen bilateral defence ties.

Particular emphasis was placed on enhancing cooperation in military training and expanding collaboration in the defence production and industrial sectors.

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The Indonesian Defence Minister lauded the professionalism of the Pakistan Armed Forces and paid tribute to their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.

He also conveyed Indonesia’s desire to broaden defence engagement with Pakistan across multiple domains.

Field Marshal Asim Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to build a strong, enduring, and multifaceted defence relationship with Indonesia, rooted in shared values, mutual respect, and convergence of strategic interests, ISPR said.

Reuters adds: Indonesia’s defence minister met Pakistan’s air force chief in Islamabad to discuss a potential deal that includes the sale of combat jets and killer drones to Jakarta, three security officials with knowledge of the meeting on Monday said.

The talks come as Pakistan’s defence industry moves forward with a series of defence procurement negotiations, including deals with Libya’s National Army and Sudan’s army, and looks to establish itself as a sizable regional player.

Indonesia’s Defence Ministry confirmed the meeting between Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu.

“The meeting focused on discussing general defence cooperation relations, including strategic dialogue, strengthening communication between defence institutions, and opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields in the long term,” defence ministry spokesperson Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait told Reuters, adding the talks had not yet led to concrete decisions.

One source said the talks revolved around the sale of JF-17 jets, a multi-role combat aircraft jointly developed by Pakistan and China, and killer drones designed for surveillance and striking targets.

The other two sources said the talks were in an advanced stage and involved more than 40 JF-17 jets. One of them said Indonesia was also interested in Pakistan’s Shahpar drones.

The sources did not share any discussions about delivery timelines and the number of years a proposed deal would span.

The Pakistani military’s public relations wing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

One additional security source with knowledge of military procurement talks said Pakistan was discussing the sale of JF-17 Thunder jets, air defence systems, training for junior, mid-level, and senior Indonesian air force officials, and engineering staff.

“The Indonesia deal is in the pipeline,” retired Air Marshal Asim Suleiman, who remains briefed on air force deals, told Reuters, adding that the number of JF-17 jets involved was close to 40.

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto was in Pakistan last month for a two-day visit for talks on improving bilateral ties, including defence.

Indonesia has put in a slew of orders for jets in the past few years, including 42 French Rafale jets worth USD8.1 billion in 2022 and 48 KAAN fighter jets from Turkey last year to strengthen its air force and replace its ageing air force fleet.

Jakarta has also considered buying China’s J-10 fighter jets and is in talks to purchase US-made F-15EX jets.

Interest in the Pakistani military’s weapons development programme has surged since its jets were deployed in a short conflict with India last year.

The JF-17s have been at the centre of that growing attention, figuring in a deal with Azerbaijan and the USD4 billion weapons pact with the Libyan National Army. Pakistan is also eyeing a defence pact with Bangladesh that could include the Super Mushshak training jets and JF-17s, as ties improve with Dhaka.

Reuters has also reported that Islamabad was in talks with Riyadh for a defence deal that could be worth between USD2 billion and USD4 billion and involves the conversion of Saudi loans into military supplies.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026