The air chiefs of Pakistan and Bangladesh recently met in Islamabad to discuss a possible deal under which Dhaka could buy JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, according to Pakistan’s military.

The meeting follows Pakistan’s efforts to build on what it sees as a strong showing by its air force during last May’s clashes with India — the heaviest fighting between the two nuclear-armed neighbors in almost 30 years.

Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and Bangladesh’s counterpart Hasan Mahmood Khan held comprehensive exchanges on the acquisition of the JF-17 Thunder, a fighter co-developed by China and Pakistan.

Pakistan has also assured Bangladesh of the “fast-tracked delivery of Super Mushshak trainer aircraft, along with a complete training and long-term support ecosystem,” it added in Tuesday’s statement.

Earlier, in January 2025, a high-level defense delegation from Bangladesh expressed strong interest in Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder, the Pakistani publication Express Tribune reported.

According to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the delegation, which was led by Lieutenant General SM Qamarul Hassan, Principal Staff Officer, Armed Forces Division, Bangladesh, met with Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu at the Air Headquarters in Islamabad. Both sides discussed possible ways to improve cooperation between their air forces and strengthen military ties.

Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, on a visit to China in November 2024, reportedly conveyed Dhaka’s strong interest in acquiring combat jets and attack helicopters. At the time, media reports stated that Bangladesh was contemplating acquiring J-10C aircraft.

However, acquiring J-10C jets could be risky business for Bangladesh, as previously explained by Air Marshal Anil Khosla, the former IAF Vice Chief of Air Staff (VCAS)

JF-17 For Saudi Arabia?

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are working out a deal that could turn roughly $2 billion in Saudi loans to Pakistan into a purchase of JF-17 jets, according to two sources in Pakistan who spoke to Reuters.

The idea is straightforward: instead of Pakistan repaying those loans, which it can ill afford right now, Riyadh would essentially receive JF-17s in exchange.

Debt, inflation, and other pressures mean Islamabad is desperate to bring in foreign exchange and boost exports. Turning debt into arms sales is a clever way to ease the burden without taking on more debt.

On the Saudi side, it’s about diversifying security ties. Riyadh has long relied on the U.S. for protection, but there’s growing concern about how reliable Washington will remain in the Middle East, especially amid shifting American priorities.

The kingdom is looking to build stronger military links elsewhere, and Pakistan fits perfectly: a long history of military support, including training Saudi pilots and intelligence sharing. Pakistan, being a nuclear-armed ally, adds a lot of weight to the partnership.

The mutual defense pact they signed in September 2025, right after Israel’s strikes on Hamas targets in Doha, Qatar, rattled Saudi Arabia and its leadership.

Pakistan’s air chief, Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, was recently in Saudi Arabia for talks on “military cooperation,” as Saudi media noted on X. And a retired Pakistani air marshal, Amir Masood, told Reuters that Pakistan is negotiating or has wrapped up JF-17 deals (plus related gear like electronics and weapons) with six countries total—including Saudi Arabia in the mix, though he couldn’t give specifics.

Pakistan claims these jets performed well in last May’s clashes with India and are cost-effective, multi-role, and already exported or in talks elsewhere, including Libya and Bangladesh.

But if it goes through, this could be one of Pakistan’s bigger defense export wins, while giving Saudi Arabia a way to modernize its air force without relying solely on pricey U.S. or European options.

Interestingly, Washington and Riyadh recently signed multiple agreements, including the sale of cutting-edge US F-35 stealth jets, during a visit by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House.

Trump had earlier stated that the US would move ahead with the sale of up to 48 of the fighter jets to Riyadh as part of a broader package that would also designate Riyadh a major non-NATO ally.