ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Tuesday agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the areas of security and counterterrorism, according to an official statement.
This came during a meeting between Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry, and Saudi Deputy Interior Minister Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Ayyaf in Riyadh.
The agreement underscores the shared commitment of both countries to work closely together in addressing regional and global security challenges, enhancing intelligence sharing, and promoting stability through coordinated efforts.
In September last year, the two countries signed a mutual defence agreement under which any act of aggression against one state would be considered an attack on both.
“Continuous engagement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is essential for peace and stability in the region,” Chaudhry said in a statement released after the meeting.
The minister also represented Pakistan at the World Defence Show 2026, a major international exhibition in Riyadh. During his visit, he also conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to the Saudi leadership for the approaching holy month of Ramadan.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share long-standing, cordial relations spanning several decades, with cooperation across key sectors including defense, trade, economy, agriculture, livestock, and minerals.
Saudi Arabia remains Pakistan’s largest source of remittances and hosts more than 2.5 million Pakistani expatriates, highlighting the depth of economic and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
The two sides have also agreed to launch an Economic Cooperation Framework to strengthen trade and investment ties, following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of the Future Investment Initiative summit in Riyadh in October last year.
