In a move aimed at bolstering bilateral military cooperation, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), embarked on a six-day visit to South Africa. This visit comes just weeks after India’s Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari’s own visit to the country.
The Goodwill visit of the Pakistan Air Force to the Republic of South Africa is scheduled to run from 29 July to 03 August 2024 and is said to be of great significance for both countries.
The primary focus of Air Chief Marshal Sidhu’s visit was to strengthen ties between the Pakistani and South African air forces. Both nations have a shared interest in enhancing collaboration and co-operation in the defense sector.
The visit is aimed at promoting friendship and further enhancing the good relations between the Pakistan Air Force and the South African National Defence Force, in line with the bilateral military cooperation programmes for 2024-2025.
Upon arrival at the flagship South African Air Force (SAAF) transport base, Waterkloof, Air Chief Marshal Sidhu and his delegation were welcomed by Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo, Chief of the SAAF. The PAF delegation arrived in a Pakistan Air Force Bombardier Global Express (J-758).
The delegation was welcomed at Air Force Base Waterkloof, where souvenirs of appreciation were exchanged. They then proceeded to the South African Air Force College, in Thaba Tshwane, for a presentation followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at Bays Hill Memorial Site.
This visit marks the second time this year that a Chief of Air Staff has engaged with the SAAF. In May, India’s Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari visited South Africa with a similar objective of strengthening military ties.
The itinerary for Air Chief Marshal Sidhu’s visit included stops at key locations. The delegation first visited the SAAF College in Thaba Tshwane, followed by Bays Hill and the SAAF Memorial. Notably, Bays Hill is situated north of the Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing (AF MDW), formerly known as Air Force Base (AFB) Swartkop—the oldest operational base in the SAAF inventory.
On the first day of the visit (29 July), Corporal Sherildean Mamba reported that the activities were specifically designed to enhance collaborative ties between the two countries. While the details of Air Chief Marshal Sidhu’s full itinerary were not disclosed, his visit was deemed of great significance to both Pakistan and South Africa.
In contrast, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari’s visit in May included stops at all three SAAF bases—Langebaanweg, Overberg, and Ysterplaat—in the Western Cape province. The SAAF Museum at Ysterplaat received special mention during his visit.
The exchange of expertise, joint training opportunities, and mutual understanding fostered during these high-level visits contribute to the strengthening of military cooperation between Pakistan and South Africa.
During the first day of the visit, Air Chief Marshall Sidhu, accompanied by his spouse and other Pakistani staff officers, engaged in various activities designed to strengthen the collaborative ties between the two countries.
In 2019, the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Mujahid Anwar Khan paid an official visit to South Africa on 24 October 2019.
During the visit, ACM Khan met with the Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Lieutenant General Fabian Msimang. The two chiefs “discussed professional matters”
Officially, South Africa and Pakistan concluded a memorandum-of-understanding (MoU) in 2017 with the aim of enhancing bilateral defence cooperation on multiple fronts.