Pakistani fighter and support aircraft had arrived at King Abdulaziz Air Base in the country’s Eastern Province
Pakistan has sent fighter jets and other military forces to Saudi Arabia to boost security under a defense pact between the two countries, the kingdom’s defense ministry said on Saturday.
In September 2025, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a landmark “Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement” declaring that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both”. The pact was signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement today that Pakistani fighter jets and support aircraft had arrived at King Abdulaziz Air Base in the country’s Eastern Province.
“The Pakistani force consists of fighter and support aircraft belonging to the Pakistan Air Force with the aim of improving joint military coordination,” the statement said, adding that it will increase the level of operational readiness between the armed forces of the two countries and support security and stability at both regional and international levels.
Saudi ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki also posted the statement on his X account.
Riyadh and Islamabad signed the Mutual Defense Pact in September 2025, committing both sides to treat any aggression against either country as an attack on both. It significantly deepened a decades-old security partnership.
Pakistan has long provided military support to the kingdom, including training and advisory deployments, while Saudi Arabia has repeatedly stepped in to support Pakistan financially during periods of economic stress.
The development came a day after Riyadh assured Islamabad of full financial support to resolve issues stemming from the Middle East conflict during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan on Friday.
Government officials said the visiting finance minister assured his country’s full financial support to Pakistan and reiterated the kingdom’s confidence in Islamabad’s role in brokering talks between the US and Iran.
In 2018, Riyadh announced a $6 billion aid package for Pakistan, including a $3 billion deposit in the central bank and $3 billion in oil supplies with deferred payment.
