Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday the arrival of a Pakistani military contingent at King Abdulaziz Air Base in the Kingdom’s eastern region, in a move aimed at strengthening bilateral defense cooperation.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the deployment comes under the strategic defense agreement signed between the two countries in September, reflecting deepening military coordination between Riyadh and Islamabad.
In its statement, the ministry said the incoming force includes fighter jets and support aircraft from the Pakistan Air Force, highlighting the operational scope of the deployment.
The ministry added that the objective of the move is to enhance joint military coordination and raise operational readiness between the armed forces of both nations, contributing to regional and international security and stability.
The announcement comes amid heightened regional tensions, following Iranian drone and missile attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states during the recent conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state, formalized their defense cooperation through a joint agreement signed in September, reinforcing long-standing strategic ties between the two countries.
Earlier during the conflict, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that Islamabad had reminded Tehran of its defense commitments to Riyadh. Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, he said Pakistani officials conveyed the agreement to Iran as part of efforts to deter further attacks on Saudi territory.
Dar added that Iranian officials, in response, emphasized the need for assurances that Saudi territory would not be used for operations against Iran, underscoring the sensitive diplomatic balance in the region.
