Air Chief Calls on Indonesian President & Military Leadership During His Visit to Indonesia

Feb 13, 2026: Chief of the Air Staff Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu met Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto during his official visit to Indonesia, where both sides discussed strengthening defence and air force cooperation.

According to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) spokesperson, the air chief was received at the Presidential Complex in Jakarta. During the meeting, he highlighted the longstanding ties between Pakistan and Indonesia and expressed commitment to enhancing Air Force-to-Air Force collaboration, particularly in training, air defence and defence production.

President Prabowo appreciated the progress of the Pakistan Air Force in areas such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), cyber, space, electronic warfare and unmanned aerial systems. He also acknowledged developments in Pakistan’s aerospace sector, including research and software capabilities, and expressed interest in expanding cooperation in advanced technologies.

High-level defence engagements

Earlier, the air chief held meetings with Indonesia’s Minister of Defence Lieutenant General (Retd) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces General Agus Subiyanto, and Indonesian Air Force Chief Air Marshal Tonny Harjono.

Upon arrival at official venues, he was presented a Guard of Honour by contingents of the Indonesian Armed Forces.

Discussions with the Indonesian Air Force chief focused on expanding joint training initiatives, professional exchange programmes and collaboration in aerospace domains. The Indonesian side expressed interest in benefiting from PAF’s operational experience and training systems.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the air chief was awarded the Medal of Honour, the highest military award of the Indonesian Air Force, in recognition of efforts to promote bilateral air power cooperation.

Expanding aerospace collaboration

In a joint meeting with Indonesia’s defence leadership, both sides reviewed defence and security matters and discussed leveraging PAF’s expertise in niche technologies. Indonesian officials also praised the development of Pakistan’s National Aerospace Science and Technology Park and expressed interest in future collaboration.

Officials said the visit marks a milestone in Pakistan–Indonesia defence relations and reflects continued efforts to deepen military cooperation and strategic partnership between the two countries.