SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
New Delhi, July 16, 2025 – The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, recently visited the United States to talk with top military officials. During his trip, he asked the U.S. not to sell the advanced F-35 fighter jets to India. This request shows Pakistan’s worry about India getting stronger in the air, especially in South Asia.
The visit happened as part of efforts to improve defense ties between Pakistan and the U.S. According to a report on idrw.org, Sidhu met with Pentagon leaders and said giving India the F-35 would upset the balance of power. He thinks it would give India a big advantage over Pakistan’s air force. This comes at a time when Pakistan is planning to buy the Chinese J-35A fighter jet, which is expected to arrive in the next two years. However, experts say the J-35A is still being developed and may not be as ready as the F-35.
Tensions between India and Pakistan have been high lately. In early May 2025, India carried out Operation Sindoor, a series of strikes that damaged some of Pakistan’s radar systems. This has left Pakistan’s air defense weaker, and Sidhu asked the U.S. for help to replace the lost equipment. News18 reported on July 3, 2025, that this visit was the first by a PAF chief to the U.S. in over ten years, showing how important these talks are.
On the other hand, India has not officially asked for the F-35 yet. But there’s talk that the Indian Air Force might want it in the future to go along with its own project, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). India Today mentioned on February 19, 2025, that India has already spent 15,000 crore rupees on the AMCA, so any decision about the F-35 could affect that work.
The U.S. and Pakistan’s relationship has not been as close in recent years, especially after the U.S. left Afghanistan. At the same time, the U.S. is getting closer to India, with deals like making GE F-414 engines together and talks about selling MQ-9B drones. This makes things tricky for Pakistan as it tries to get support from the U.S.
For now, it’s unclear what the U.S. will do about Sidhu’s request. The situation in South Asia remains tense, and both countries are watching each other’s next moves closely. More updates are expected as talks continue.
