BAKU – Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev Tuesday received Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Defense Production Pakistan Zobaida Jalal.
The official statement released by Azerbaijan’s Presidency did not provide details about talks between the two sides but the crucial meeting comes weeks after the Military Attaché of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan to Pakistan, Colonel Mehman Novruzov revaled that his country is interest in Block III PAC JF-17 Thunder multirole combat aircraft from Pakistan to strengthen its defence system.
On November 2, Colonel Mehman confirmed it to media that talks between the two countries to strike a deal had started earlier this year. Both countries are yet to reach an agreement in this regard.
“The purchase of JF-17 Thunder aircraft from Pakistan is a key item on our agenda,” he added.
JF-17 Thunder fighter jet, manufactured by Pakistan with the cooperation of China is getting international recognition with more export orders.
In September, reports emerged that Pakistan had received an international order for the supply of 12 fighter jets JF-17 Thunder Block III to Iraq.
Reports cited sources as saying that officials from Pakistan and Iraq held various rounds of talks to finalize the defence deal.
The negotiations finally concluded with the recent visit of Iraqi defence delegation led by Deputy Commander Iraqi Air Force Major General (Pilot) Muhammad Majeed Mahdi Mahmood.
In April this year, Pakistan exhibited models of its JF-17 fighter jet, Al-Khalid battle tank, Takbir precision munition and Azmat-class missile boat among other defense hardware in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
This was the first ever exhibition of Pakistani defense goods in Iraq which is one of the main buyers of military hardware after the Gulf nations and Egypt.
Nigeria and Myanmar have already inducted these jets in their fleet.
In May this year, Pakistan had formally handed over to Nigerian Air Force in an official ceremony at Makurdi, Nigeria.
Read more: https://pakobserver.net/iraq-to-purchase-12-pakistan-made-jf-17-thunder-fighter-jets/
