Pakistan courts Bangladesh with JF-17 fighter deal as defence ties deepen

By Ravi Shankar

Pakistan and Bangladesh are exploring the possible sale of JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft as part of a broader push to expand bilateral defence cooperation, a development being closely watched in New Delhi amid signs of strain in India–Bangladesh relations.

Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu held talks in Islamabad on Tuesday with visiting Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, focusing on operational cooperation, training exchanges, and the potential procurement of the JF-17, Pakistan’s frontline multirole fighter jointly developed with China.

The two sides discussed enhancing “institutional synergy” between their air forces, including training, aircraft maintenance support, and collaboration in aerospace technologies, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in its statement.
According to the ISPR, Pakistan also offered Super Mushshak trainer aircraft to train Bangladeshi pilots and personnel with associated support infrastructure.

The BAF Chief sought technical and operational assistance to sustain Bangladesh’s ageing fleet and explored cooperation in integrating air defence radar systems. The visiting delegation toured several key Pakistan Air Force (PAF) facilities, including the National ISR & Integrated Air Operations Centre, Cyber Command, and the National Aerospace Science & Technology Park, signalling Pakistan’s intent to showcase its growing aerospace ecosystem.

JF-17: Strategic export platform

The Chinese JF-17 has gradually replaced older platforms within the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). It is marketed as a cost-effective combat aircraft for developing air forces in friendly countries. The fighter has been operationally deployed in counter-terrorism campaigns and border engagements. Pakistan claims that the JF-17 played a role in the 2019 aerial standoff with India, as well as in subsequent cross-border operations, although New Delhi has disputed these assertions.

In late 2025, Islamabad announced plans to expand exports of the jet, revealing that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a “friendly country,” including Libya, for future sales.

Shift in Dhaka’s defence outreach?

The talks come at a time when Pakistan-Bangladesh ties have warmed noticeably, even as Dhaka’s relationship with New Delhi has entered a more uncertain phase following the political upheaval of 2024, during which former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought refuge in India.

The talks are taking place at a time when relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have noticeably improved. At the same time, Bangladesh’s relationship with India has become more uncertain, particularly following the political upheaval of 2024, when former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought refuge in India.

For India, Bangladesh is a key strategic partner in the Bay of Bengal and within the northeastern security framework. Any enhancement of defence cooperation between Dhaka and Islamabad, especially if it involves Chinese-origin systems, will likely be viewed by New Delhi as part of a broader trend of Chinese-Pakistani strategic initiatives in India’s neighbourhood.

However, discussions of the potential sale of Chinese aircraft are still in the preliminary stages, Pakistan’s commitment to supply these aircraft, along with pilot training, a comprehensive maintenance system, and cooperation in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), suggests a long-term strategy to establish operational ties with the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF).

The evolving Pakistan–Bangladesh defence dynamic will remain of strategic interest to New Delhi.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication.