ISLAMABAD (MNN); Pakistan has deployed a military contingent, including fighter jets, to Saudi Arabia to enhance security under a joint defence cooperation agreement, the Saudi Ministry of Defense said.
In a statement, the ministry confirmed that Pakistani fighter and support aircraft have arrived at King Abdulaziz Air Base in the Kingdom’s eastern province. The deployment is aimed at strengthening the existing defence partnership and boosting joint operational coordination between the armed forces of both countries.
According to the statement, the move seeks to improve military readiness and reinforce bilateral defence cooperation in line with agreements signed between the two nations.
The deployment comes in the wake of heightened regional tensions following Iranian strikes that targeted key energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and reportedly resulted in casualties. Sources indicated that the Pakistani presence is intended as a defensive measure to reassure Riyadh and deter further escalation.
A senior Pakistani official, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasised that the deployed forces are “not there to attack anyone” but to support defensive preparedness. Concerns had grown after a reported strike on the Jubail petrochemical complex, raising fears of possible retaliation that could further destabilise the region.
Officials familiar with the development said the move also aims to ensure stability at a time when sensitive diplomatic efforts, including Iran-related negotiations, remain underway.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share longstanding strategic ties encompassing defence cooperation, economic partnership, and close diplomatic relations. Saudi Arabia has historically been a key source of financial support and energy supplies for Pakistan.
In September last year, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in Riyadh, under which both countries pledged to treat any attack on one as an attack on both, further deepening their security partnership.
