Saudi military chief meet Pakistan’s top leadership to boost defence partnership

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are working on a major upgrade in their security partnership as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Saudi Arabia’s Chief of General Staff Fayyadh bin Hamed Al‑Ruwaili in Islamabad to review plans for defence cooperation, counter-terrorism coordination and regional stability.

The meeting was held after a historic strategic bilateral defence agreement signed in Riyadh earlier this year.

At the core of the discussions was the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, signed on 17 September 2025, which states that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.” 

Sharif described the pact as a “milestone” in the Islamabad-Riyadh relationship and said both sides are committed to implementing the agreement through joint training, military exercises and the exchange of expertise.

He further stressed that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share a longstanding resolve to combat terrorism and extremism.

General Al-Ruwaili conveyed congratulations from the Saudi leadership and reaffirmed Riyadh’s strong desire to elevate the existing defence and strategic relationship. He told his Pakistani counterparts that the Kingdom is committed to taking cooperation to “new heights” in the coming phase.

Also in attendance at the Islamabad meeting were Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

The 2025 agreement is widely viewed as the most significant upgrade in Pakistan–Saudi defence cooperation in decades, formalising decades of informal military ties. Analysts say the pact institutionalises a long-standing relationship and may reshape regional security dynamics amid shifting Middle East alliances. 

It comes at a time of heightened regional tensions, especially following recent Israeli military activity in the Gulf region. The agreement reflects both countries’ intention to deepen their strategic alignment.

As the two sides move into the operational phase of the pact, key questions remain about specifics, how joint forces will be deployed, what training and exercises will look like, and how this will impact other regional players.