PAF Chief Becomes Pakistan's Global Arms Salesman Amid Economic Crisis

• Pakistan's military leadership, particularly PAF Chief Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, engaged in intense global outreach in 2025-2026, blending military diplomacy with arms sales.
• This 'arms-for-cash' strategy emerged as Pakistan faced severe economic distress and political instability, with the military stepping in to court foreign partners.
• Sidhu's visits included the United States, China, Romania, Dubai Airshow, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, marketing defence exports like JF-17 jets and training packages.
• Advanced talks with Indonesia for over 40 JF-17 fighter jets and Shahpar drones highlight Pakistan's reliance on defence exports as an economic lifeline.
• Critics argue this military-first foreign policy risks reinforcing Pakistan's image as a state exporting insecurity rather than achieving economic reform.

Why It Matters: Pakistan's military leadership is aggressively pushing arms exports globally to offset severe economic challenges.