JF-17 impresses Malaysia: Mahathir inspects aircraft before leaving Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani officials briefed Malaysian leader Dr Mahathir Mohammad on the capabilities of JF-17 before he left Islamabad.

The Malaysian prime minister was in Pakistan on a three-day visit on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s invitation.

He was guest of honor at the Pakistan Day Military Parade that was held in Islamabad.

According to Pakistan’s Finance Minister Asad Umar Malaysia has shown keen interest in Pakistani fighter jet JF-17 Thunder.

JF-17 jointly developed by Pakistan and China is a lightweight, single-engine, multi-role combat aircraft which, according to some reports, was involved in shooting down two Indian aircraft over Kahsmir last month as the tensions between the two nuclear armed nations spiked following a suicide bombing in Pulwama.

Pakistani official said Malaysia has shown interest in inducting the aircraft into its air force.

Pakistan displayed its military might at the Pakistan Day parade where tanks, missiles and other equipment was shown to the public as millions of people watched the event on their television sreens.

The Pakistan leader is immensely inspired by the veteran Malaysian politician who is credited for transforming his country’s economy.

Imran Khan on Friday said there are only two leaders that Muslim nations look up to: Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.