By The South Asia Times

Rawalpindi/Islamabad — Indonesia’s Minister of Defence, Lieutenant General (Retd) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, held separate meetings with Pakistan’s top military leadership on Monday, as the two countries moved to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation across multiple domains.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Indonesian defence minister called on Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

The talks focused on matters of mutual interest, evolving regional and global security dynamics, and ways to enhance defence collaboration between Pakistan and Indonesia.

Both sides underscored the importance of strengthening institutional linkages, expanding training cooperation, and promoting defence industrial collaboration. The visiting dignitary praised the professionalism of the Pakistan Armed Forces and acknowledged their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. He also expressed Indonesia’s desire to further broaden defence ties with Pakistan across various sectors.

Field Marshal Asim Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to building a strong and enduring defence relationship with Indonesia, based on shared values, mutual respect, and convergence of strategic interests.

Earlier, a defence delegation led by Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin also met Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of Air Staff, at Air Headquarters in Islamabad. The meeting followed the recent state visit of the Indonesian president and highlighted the growing momentum in bilateral relations.

According to ISPR, discussions at Air Headquarters focused on enhancing cooperation between the two air forces, particularly in capacity building, training, and technological collaboration. The air chief briefed the Indonesian delegation on the Pakistan Air Force’s modernization drive, including infrastructure development, updated training systems, and the induction of niche capabilities aimed at improving readiness for multi-domain operations.

The Indonesian defence minister lauded the PAF’s professionalism, combat readiness, and progress in indigenization under the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park. He expressed strong interest in expanding collaboration in training, aviation, and aerospace fields.

Both meetings reflected a shared resolve by Pakistan and Indonesia to deepen defence cooperation through sustained engagement and dialogue, as the two countries seek to build on their longstanding and “brotherly” ties.