Amidst ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, Pakistan has deployed 8,000 troops, a squadron of fighter jets, and air defense systems to Saudi Arabia. The Pakistani government has taken this step under the framework of a mutual defense agreement between the two nations. This move further strengthens Islamabad’s military cooperation with Riyadh—even as Pakistan simultaneously acts as a key mediator in efforts to end the conflict with Iran. The news agency Reuters reported this information in an online dispatch on Monday (May 18).
This marks the first time that the full scope of the Pakistani government’s military deployment in Saudi Arabia has been publicly revealed.
Reuters reported that three security officials and two government sources confirmed this information. According to them, this constitutes a large-scale, combat-capable force intended to assist the Saudi military should the Kingdom face any new attacks in the future.
However, Pakistan’s Ministry of Defense, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Saudi government’s media office have not yet issued any comments regarding this matter.
The Reuters report notes that the full terms of the defense agreement—signed between the two countries last year—have been kept confidential. Nevertheless, both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have stated that the agreement contains a binding clause: if either party falls victim to an attack, the other party is obligated to come to its defense.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif, had previously hinted that, through this agreement, Saudi Arabia has effectively come under the umbrella of Pakistan’s “nuclear security cover.”
Citing its sources, Reuters reports that Pakistan has deployed a full squadron—comprising at least 16 fighter jets—to Saudi Arabia. The majority of these aircraft are JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, developed jointly with China. These aircraft were dispatched to Saudi Arabia in early April.
Two security officials further disclosed that Pakistan has additionally deployed two squadrons of drones to Saudi Arabia.
All five sources confirmed to Reuters that Pakistan has sent at least 8,000 troops to Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, Islamabad has pledged to deploy additional troops to the Kingdom should the need arise. In parallel with these deployments, a Chinese-made HQ-9 air defense system has also been stationed in Riyadh.
The sources added that this military hardware is being operated by Pakistani forces, with the entire operation being funded by Saudi Arabia. According to two security officials, members of Pakistan’s army and air force deployed in Saudi Arabia will primarily perform advisory and training roles. The officials stated that they have reviewed documents pertaining to the exchange of communications and the deployment of military equipment between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
An official who has seen the draft of the two nations’ confidential defense pact noted that the agreement outlines the possibility of deploying up to 80,000 Pakistani troops to assist Saudi forces in securing the country’s borders.
Two security officials added that the agreement also encompassed the deployment of Pakistani warships to Saudi Arabia. However, Reuters has been unable to confirm whether any Pakistani warships have, in fact, been deployed to Saudi Arabia to date.
