Pakistan military unit arrives at Saudi air base under joint defense pact

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said on Saturday that a Pakistani military contingent has arrived at King Abdulaziz Air Base in the Eastern Sector under a joint strategic defense agreement between the two countries.

The ministry said the deployment includes fighter and support aircraft from the Pakistan Air Force, aimed at strengthening joint operational coordination and enhancing readiness between the two militaries.

It added that the arrangement is intended to support regional and international security and stability through closer defense cooperation.

The development comes months after Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a landmark defense pact pledging that any aggression against one country would be treated as an attack on both, underscoring their longstanding strategic partnership.

The “Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement” was signed in September, 2025, by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during Sharif’s official visit to Riyadh.

In a joint statement at the time, both sides said the agreement aimed to deepen security cooperation, strengthen joint deterrence capabilities, and contribute to peace in the region and beyond.

Sharif had arrived in Riyadh at the invitation of the Saudi Crown Prince. He was received at King Khalid International Airport with a 21-gun salute and a ceremonial guard of honor, while parts of the Saudi capital were decorated with Pakistani flags in a gesture of welcome.

The joint statement had described the pact as reflecting the “shared commitment of both nations to enhance their security and achieve peace in the region and the world.”