Defense cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh seems to be increasing rapidly in recent months. Pakistan announced at the Dubai Airshow that it is soon going to sell JF-17 Thunder Block-III fighter jet to a friendly country. As soon as this came to light, military analysts started speculating as to who this country could be. Reports that emerged two days later indicated that this friendly country could actually be Bangladesh. The new political equations formed after the fall of Sheikh Hasina government have reactivated the relations between Dhaka and Islamabad. The interim government has taken steps towards reviving defense cooperation with both China and Pakistan. In such times, the acquisition of modern fighter aircraft like JF-17 can prove to be a big change for Bangladesh Air Force.

According to Defense Security Asia report, Pakistan may be ready to provide 16 to 24 JF-17 Thunder Block-III to Bangladesh. The estimated deal could be between 400 to 700 million dollars. This will be considered the biggest fighter jet acquisition in the history of Bangladesh Air Force. India is also keeping an eye on this possible agreement, because this deal can affect the balance of security situations in the North-Eastern region.

Why the search for JF-17 increased among the old fleet

Bangladesh has been trying to modernize its air fleet for a long time. It has aircraft like F-7, MiG-29 and Yak-130, whose technology is considered weak compared to modern warfare requirements. Dhaka formally began the evaluation of the JF-17 in January 2025, studying the machine’s technical capabilities, weapon systems and cost, as Bangladesh wants modern technology within a limited budget. This is a joint project of Pakistan-China, hence its price is less than half that of western fighter planes. The leadership that came to power after the Sheikh Hasina government has shown interest in increasing defense cooperation with Pakistan and China, due to which the possibility of purchasing JF-17 has become stronger.

What is the specialty of JF-17 Block-III?
JF-17 Thunder is considered the main strength of Pakistan Air Force. Its new Block-III version is a 4.5 generation multirole fighter, which has been jointly developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex. The specialty of this aircraft is its cost, advanced electronic system and balanced combat capability. Its range can exceed 3,400 km and the maximum take-off weight is approximately 13,500 kg. It is considered accurate in both air-to-air and air-to-ground operations.

Anti-ship missiles, laser-guided bombs, modern radar, self-defense system and 23 mm gun make it strong in the category of multirole fighter. Its service ceiling is 50,000 feet, making it effective even in high altitude missions. Low cost and simple maintenance make it a viable solution for air forces with medium budgets.

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In the second match of the series played at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh took a 2-0 lead on the series by defeating Pakistan by 8 runs. The first match of the series was also named after Bangladesh, in which the host won by 7 wickets.

Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl first. Pakistani bowlers proved the decision of captain Salman Ali Aga to be correct and consisted of Bangladesh for 133 runs in 20 overs. Jaaker Ali scored 55 off 48 balls and Maheedi Hasan scored 33 runs off 25 balls.

Salman Mirza-Ahmad Danial-Abbas Afridi took 2-2 wickets, while Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Nawaz got 1-1 success.

Pakistan had a minor target of 134 runs to win, but the Pakistan team was reduced to 125 runs in 19.2 overs and lost the match by 8 runs. With this defeat, Pakistan also lost the series.

For Pakistan, Faheem Ashraf played a half -century innings of 51 runs with the help of four fours and four sixes off 32 balls. However, none of the team’s batsman bound in front of Bangladesh bowlers. 7 batsmen could not reach even two points.

For Bangladesh, Shoriful Islam took 3 wickets for 17 runs in 4 overs. Apart from this, Maheedi Hasan and Tanjim Hasan Shakib got 2-2 success. Mustafizur Rahman and Rishad Hussain got 1-1 wickets. Jaaker Ali was declared the best player of the match.

This is the first time Pakistan has lost against Bangladesh in the T20 series. The third and last match of the series will be played on 24 July. Bangladesh would like to clean the last match and clean Pakistan’s soup in the series. If this happens, it will be a very embarrassing situation for Pakistan.

After the Pahalgam terror attack, the streak of enmity between India and Pakistan has once again deepened. India is completely in the mood to take action on Pakistan. Due to this, Pakistan is trembling and is making rhetoric. Meanwhile, today we have brought such an anecdote of India and Pakistan which is based on a bike. This story is between Yahya Khan, who is leading the Pakistani army in the 1971 war and Sam Manekshaw, who leads the Indian Army.

Yahya Khan and Sam Manekshaw used to be good friends at one time. During the same friendship, Yahya Khan took the bike from Sam Manekshaw, but he never paid his price. But when Pakistan lost after the 1971 war and East Pakistan i.e. Bangladesh emerged on the world map, Sam Manekshaw made a statement about that bike.

When Yahya Khan liked Manekshaw’s bike

Sam Manekshaw and Yahya Khan’s friendship is of the time when India and Pakistan were not divided. At that time there was a British Indian Army and Sam Manekshaw and Yahya Khan used to be in the same army. Sam Manekshaw was the Lieutenant Colonel at that time and Yahya Khan was posted as Major. Friendship was good between the two, Yahya Khan liked a bike from Sam Manekshaw. He asked Sam to sell them. It is said that Manekshaw gave that bike to Yahya Khan for 1000 rupees. When the two countries separated, both of them had to take charge of their country’s army, but Sam Manekshaw never paid the price of the bike.

Bike money was not paid even after years

It had been more than 23 years since the two countries separated, but till now Yahya Khan had not given that 1000 rupees of the bike to Sam Manekshaw yet. Both had moved forward in their lives. Yahya Khan’s administration in East Pakistan was torturing him a lot. The people of East Pakistan did not have the rights like Western Pakistanis. In such a situation, in 1971, there was a war to separate East Pakistan i.e. Bangladesh from Pakistan.

The price of the bike had to be paid by paying half the country

India was attacked by Pakistan in 1971, after which Sam Manekshaw’s army taught Pakistan a good lesson. Then on 16 December 1971, a new country Bangladesh emerged. Yahya Khan had lost badly. The price of the bike was not paid by Yahya Khan even then, but Sam Manekshaw was also known for funny style. After the 1971 war, Sam Manekshaw said in his statement that Yahya Khan has paid the price of my bike by paying half his country.

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