Senior Pakistani Air Force Officer in Bangladesh, Islamabad-Dhaka Continue Military Diplomacy

Just months after the newly elected Bangladesh National Party government took over in Dhaka, a senior Pakistani Air Force (PAF) officer landed there to continue the military diplomacy between the two nations that began under the interim government under Mohamed Yunus.

PAF’s Strategic Command Deputy Chief of Staff Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed landed in Dhaka, along with a delegation, coinciding with the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, India’s anti-terror, four-day short war with Pakistan in May 2025.

The visit marks the resumption of military diplomacy between Pakistan and Bangladesh after the BNP government took charge recently, following a democratic general election earlier this year.

Pakistan is currently training Bangladeshi civil servants in Lahore while the Pakistani Home Minister is also in Dhaka for a bilateral visit.

Air Vice Marshal Auranzeb Ahmed was a key face during India’s Operation Sindoor, as he had briefed the media on the Pakistani countermoves in May 2025.

The PAF officer was honoured during a special ceremony in the Air Headquarters in Islamabad last week for his role in Pakistan’s retaliation, dubbed ‘Marka-e-Haq’, to India’s Operation Sindoor.

Before the elections, the Bangladeshi interim government that was in power for nearly 18 months had begun engagement between the PAF and the Bangladesh Air Force.

The two air forces also reached an understanding on advanced pilots and technicians training, and this agreement was expected to be formalised this month.

Reports also suggested that Bangladesh was interested in buying Pakistan-Chinese JF-17 combat aircraft, a single-engine, lightweight fighter jointly developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex.

Since then, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ouster from Dhaka in August 2024, Bangladesh’s Islamic hardcore politicians have initiated several military exchanges with Pakistan.

Last week, the two nations agreed to strengthen coordinated anti-narcotics operations through information sharing, joint intelligence operations, and capacity-building initiatives.

On Friday (May 8), they also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation in busting drug trafficking, money laundering, and preventing narcotics abuse.

Bangladeshi Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and his Pakistani counterpart Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi signed the 10-year agreement in this regard.