Sri Lankan air chief calls on Sidhu, praises PAF’s professionalism

ISLAMABAD: Exercise Indus Shield-2024 showcased the participation of various air chiefs and high-ranking military officials from allied nations who attended to witness the mega event. The exercise highlighted the multi-domain warfighting capabilities of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and reinforced the significance of global collaboration among air forces.

During his official visit to witness Exercise Indus Shield-2024, Air Marshal Rajapaksa Appuhamilage Udeni Priyadarshana Rajapaksa, Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force, met with Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, at Air Headquarters in Islamabad on Friday. The meeting covered a wide range of operational topics within regional security. On arrival at Air Headquarters, Air Marshal Rajapaksa received a guard of honour from a smartly turned-out contingent of the Pakistan Air Force.

During their meeting, the air chief shared insights on PAF’s ongoing modernisation projects, operational structure, strategic goals, and future warfare plans. Appreciating the participation of the Sri Lankan Air Force in Exercise Indus Shield, the air chief emphasised the strong ties between Pakistan and Sri Lanka and expressed his commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation, particularly in military-to-military engagements, maintenance support, and training programmes to bolster the Sri Lankan Air Force’s capabilities.

Air Marshal Rajapaksa commended the PAF’s achievements in indigenisation and its transformation into a Next-Generation Air Force under the current leadership. He praised Exercise Indus Shield-2024 as a world-class event with high training value and impressive multi-domain operational standards. The Sri Lankan air chief also lauded the professionalism of PAF personnel and the seamless organisation of the exercise, which brought together top air powers from around the world.

Expressing a desire to enhance military ties between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Air Marshal Rajapaksa emphasised the need to optimise cooperation in training, maintenance, and operational competencies for the Sri Lankan Air Force. The air chief assured him of PAF’s full support in these areas. Later, Air Marshal Rajapaksa visited the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park, the National ISR and Integrated Air Operations Centre, and PAF Cyber Command, where he was briefed on PAF’s operational capabilities.