ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening military cooperation and advancing collaboration under the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA), a military statement said on Friday.
The affirmation came during a meeting between Lieutenant General Syed Aamer Raza, Chief of General Staff (CGS) Pakistan Army, and General Fayyadh Bin Hameed Al-Rowaily, Chief of General Staff, Royal Saudi Armed Forces, in Riyadh, the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual strategic interest were discussed, with a special focus on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, enhancing interoperability and advancing collaboration under the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA),” it said.
It added that both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening the long-standing fraternal ties between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, contributing towards regional peace, stability, and self-reliance.
The ISPR said that a Special Meeting of the Pakistan-KSA Bilateral Defence Industrial Forum was also held in Riyadh.
“Pakistan tri-services delegation was led by Lieutenant General Syed Aamer Raza, CGS Pakistan Army, while the Saudi side was headed by Mr Khalid Al Biyari, Assistant Minister of Defence for Executive Affairs,” the statement said.
During the meeting, both sides reviewed the progress of ongoing defence cooperation projects and discussed new avenues for joint ventures in emerging technologies in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
CGS reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued support for the capacity building of the Royal Saudi Defence Forces.
“Saudi leadership appreciated Pakistan’s commitments, achievements and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and vital contributions to regional peace and stability,” the ISPR said in the statement.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, in September, signed a “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement” pledging that aggression against one country would be treated as an attack on both, a move that will enhance joint deterrence and strengthen decades of military and security cooperation.
The pact aims to strengthen defence cooperation, enhance joint deterrence, and formalise the long-standing strategic partnership between the two nations.
The agreement was signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to Riyadh, where he met Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have for decades maintained close political, military, and economic ties.
The Kingdom hosts more than 2.5 million Pakistani expatriates — the largest overseas community sending remittances back to Pakistan — and has repeatedly provided Islamabad with financial support during its economic crises.
Defence cooperation between the two countries has included training, arms purchases, and joint military exercises.
