DID Press: Pakistan has strongly rejected a Reuters report claiming that thousands of Pakistani troops and advanced military equipment have been deployed in Saudi Arabia under a bilateral defense arrangement.
The report alleged that Pakistan stationed around 8,000 troops along with an F-17 fighter squadron, two drone squadrons, and an HQ-9 air defense system in the kingdom. It further claimed that Saudi Arabia is financing the deployment and that Islamabad could send up to 50,000–80,000 troops if required for border protection.
Pakistani security sources described the report as “one-sided and inconsistent with reality,” saying it misrepresents routine defense cooperation between Islamabad and Riyadh. They stressed that military ties between the two countries should not be interpreted through regional geopolitical tensions.
Officials in Islamabad also emphasized that Saudi Arabia holds special religious significance for Pakistan due to the presence of Islam’s holiest sites, describing the relationship as one rooted in faith as well as strategic cooperation. They added that any military cooperation or joint exercises are strictly defensive and conducted under formal agreements.
A Pakistani military spokesperson has previously stated that Islamabad stands ready to support Saudi Arabia against any external threat, while cautioning that such cooperation should not be misinterpreted as involvement in regional conflicts.