Pakistan Can Offer Somalia More Than Fighter Jets: Retired Pakistan Air Force Group Captain
Pakistan Can Offer Somalia More Than Fighter Jets: Retired Pakistan Air Force Group Captain
Somalia needs not only hardware but also the human capital to operate and maintain an air force, Sultan M. Hali, a writer and retired group captain of the Pakistan Air Force, told Sputnik.
Pakistan has decades of experience training pilots, technicians, and aviation engineers—skills that could prove critical as Somalia seeks to rebuild its shattered air force, he emphasized.
Other key points from Hali:
A Relevant Model: Pakistan developed its defense capabilities under resource constraints while facing terrorism, insurgency, and maritime-security challenges—making it a fitting example for Somalia.
Strategic Location: Somalia sits near key maritime routes connecting Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
"For Somalia, that means strengthening national security; for Pakistan, it means building a trusted partnership in one of the world's most strategically important regions," Hali said.
The remarks follow a visit by a high-level Pakistan Air Force delegation to President Hassan Sheikh in September. The two countries signed a defense cooperation agreement in August covering counterterrorism, training, and capacity building.
Media reports in early 2026 suggested Somalia was negotiating to buy 24 JF-17 Block III jets worth about $900 million, though no arms agreement has been officially announced.
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