What happened?
Pakistan Air Force Chief Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu visited the United States in June 2025, marking the first such trip by a serving air chief in over a decade. He met top defence officials, including Air Force Chief of Staff General David W. Elon and political leaders on Capitol Hill. Discussions focused on military cooperation, training programmes, and evolving regional dynamics.
Why it matters to India
The visit signals a potential recalibration of US-Pakistan defence ties, which could impact regional security calculations, particularly with regard to Afghanistan and India-Pakistan dynamics. While US-India defence relations have deepened, Washington’s outreach to Islamabad suggests a hedging strategy. India will closely watch such developments to assess implications for defence aid, counter-terrorism cooperation, and strategic alignments in South Asia. It also underscores the need for India to reinforce its defence and diplomatic narratives in Washington.