Pakistan army chief, Saudi minister discuss regional conflict, Iran attacks

Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, met Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman in Saudi Arabia on Saturday to discuss the escalating conflict in the Middle East and recent Iranian missile and drone attacks on the kingdom.

Khalid bin Salman said the talks addressed the strikes in the context of the two countries’ strategic defense cooperation and the steps needed to counter them.

In a post on X after the meeting, the Saudi minister said both sides discussed Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia and measures required to stop them, warning that such actions threaten regional stability. He also urged Iran to “exercise wisdom and avoid miscalculation.”

The Pakistan military’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the discussions emphasized the severity of the security situation resulting from Iranian drone and missile attacks and examined joint measures under the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement. The statement highlighted that unprovoked aggression undermines regional security efforts and reduces opportunities for peaceful dispute resolution.

Both sides expressed hope that Iran would exercise prudence to avoid miscalculations and strengthen the position of countries seeking a peaceful settlement to the crisis.

The meeting comes as fighting between Iran, the United States and Israel intensifies, raising fears of a wider regional conflict and disrupting global energy markets. Saudi Arabia has been directly affected by missile and drone launches targeting its territory amid the broader confrontation.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia maintain close defense and security ties, including military cooperation and economic support, with Riyadh long serving as a key source of financial assistance and energy supplies for Islamabad.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a strategic mutual defense agreement in Riyadh in September last year, pledging that an attack on either country would be treated as aggression against both.