Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has expressed keen interest in leveraging the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) state-of-the-art training ecosystem and aerospace development infrastructure to enhance his country’s defence capabilities, the military’s media wing said on Friday.

A statement from the Inter Services Public Relations said the Indonesian president showed his intent during a meeting with Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, who is on an official visit to Indonesia.

During the meeting, the air chief underscored the shared values and longstanding brotherhood between Pakistan and Indonesia.

Earlier, he held separate high-level meetings with Defence Minister Lieutenant General (Retd) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, the commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces and the Indonesian air marshal.

“During discussion with the Indonesian air chief, both sides discussed enhanced air force-to-air force cooperation, joint training from basic to advanced levels, professional exchanges and collaboration in emerging aerospace domains. The Indonesian air chief sought PAF’s support in advancing operational and flying training, acknowledging PAF’s rich combat experience. The air chief was conferred the Medal of Honour, the highest award of the Indonesian Air Force in recognition of his role in strengthening bilateral air power cooperation,” the ISPR said.

ACM Sidhu also held a joint meeting with the Indonesian defence minister and chief of defence forces, where a wide range of defence and security matters were discussed.

The ISPR said the Indonesian leadership appreciated PAF’s “professionalism, modernisation drive, and lauded the advanced technological infrastructure” of the National Aerospace Science & Technology Park.

The PAF and its defence capabilities have gained significant international attention following the India-Pakistan conflict last year, during which PAF jets successfully shot down six Indian planes, while none of Pakistan’s warplanes were seriously damaged. In the wake of the military success, numerous countries have shown keen interest in forging defence deals with Pakistan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif previously highlighted that Pakistan’s defence production has strengthened in the aftermath of the conflict. He noted that the global demand for the country’s fighter jets has increased, with several nations actively seeking to engage with Pakistan on defence matters. The prime minister emphasised that these developments will not only enhance Pakistan’s defence capabilities but will also contribute positively to the country’s economy.