A technical agreement obtained by monitoring site Nordic Monitor reveals that Turkey is reportedly planning to train Qatari fighter pilots. Turkey is set to train Qatari fighter pilots and will allow the temporary deployment of up to 36 Qatari military aircraft and 250 personnel, according to a document obtained by monitoring and news site Nordic Monitor.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan forwarded a technical agreement, signed by Turkey and Qatar, to parliament for approval, the report said.
A justification was attached to the document, explaining that the agreement was aimed at contributing to the training and experience of Qatari fighter pilots within the framework of friendly relations and cooperation between Turkey and Qatar.
The agreement also highlights that at Turkey’s request, Qatari aircraft will be able to carry Turkish ammunition, personnel and humanitarian aid in and out of Turkey.
The term of the agreement is five years and will be extended automatically for one year periods unless either party requests a withdrawal from the agreement.
However, the Nordic Monitor reported that some issues may arise in the implementation of the new agreement.
Should Qatari pilots receive training on US-made F-16 fighter jets, permission must be secured from the US.
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Similarly, the Qatar Air Force may also need permission from France for Turkish pilots to fly on French-made fighting aircrafts. According to the agreement, one Turkish pilot must be present in the aircraft.
Pakistan offers military training to Qatar
Referring to Qatar as a confident and trustworthy friend of Pakistan, Minister for Defence Production, Zobaida Jalal on Wednesday has said that the country’s military institutions are open for the Qatari Armed Forces to avail maximum training facilities.
In a meeting with the Ambassador of Qatar to Pakistan Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Islamabad, Jalal said Pakistan and Qatar need to work closely to further extend bilateral cooperation beyond the economic domain to defence, military exercises, training of personnel and joint ventures.
On the other hand, the Qatari ambassador reassured his government’s commitment to fully cooperate with Pakistan and its people to further expand bilateral ties between the two countries.
Earlier in January, Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had also met with the top Qatari leadership, including Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani during which matters of mutual interest, defence and security cooperation were discussed, a statement from the military’s media wing had said.
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The Inter-services Public Relations (ISPR) had said, “Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited Qatar on two days official visit. During the visit, COAS witnessed passing out parade at Ahmed Bin Muhammad Military College.”
The COAS had appreciated the high standards of the institution and its efforts towards grooming young cadets to take on challenges of the future battlefield.