Pakistani fighter jets and support aircraft have 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 beef up security as part of a defense deal between the two countries, the kingdom’s defense ministry said Saturday.
In September 2025, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a “Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement,” stating that “any aggression against either country will be considered aggression against both.” The agreement 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.
The Saudi Defense Ministry 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 fighters and support aircraft belonging to the Pakistan Air Force, with the aim of strengthening joint military coordination,” the statement said, adding that it would raise the level of operational readiness between the armed forces of the two countries and support security and stability at the regional and international levels.
Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki also posted the statement on his X account.
Riyadh and Islamabad signed a mutual defense agreement in September 2025, committing both sides to treat any aggression against either country as an attack on both countries. This 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 intervened to financially support Pakistan during periods of economic tension.
The development came a day after Riyadh assured Islamabad of full financial support to resolve issues arising 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 mediating role in the US-Iran talks.
In 2018, Riyadh announced a $6 billion support package for Pakistan, including a $3 billion central bank deposit and $3 billion in deferred payment oil reserves.
