Pakistan has dispatched fighter jets along with additional military personnel to Saudi Arabia as part of a defence agreement between the two nations, the Saudi defence ministry announced on Saturday. This move comes as Islamabad hosts diplomatic discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
In a significant development, Riyadh and Islamabad formalized a mutual defence pact in September 2025, pledging that any attack on one country would be considered an attack on both. This agreement marks a substantial strengthening of their longstanding security alliance.
The Saudi defence ministry confirmed that Pakistani fighter jets and support aircraft have arrived at King Abdulaziz Air Base, located in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. The deployment is intended to reinforce joint defence collaboration and contribute to regional and global security and stability.
Pakistan has historically provided military assistance to Saudi Arabia, including training and advisory roles, while Saudi Arabia has frequently offered financial aid to Pakistan during times of economic difficulty. Notably, Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan visited Pakistan on Friday to reaffirm economic support for the country.
Previously, in 2018, Saudi Arabia extended a $6 billion aid package to Pakistan, which included a $3 billion deposit in Pakistan’s central bank and $3 billion worth of oil supplies on deferred payment terms, underscoring the depth of their bilateral cooperation.
