Riyadh (TDI): Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir held talks with Khalid bin Salman Al Saud in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, focusing on the escalating Middle East conflict and recent Iranian attacks on the kingdom.
According to the Saudi defense minister, the discussions covered Iranian missile and drone strikes against Saudi Arabia within the framework of the strategic defense agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The two sides reviewed the situation and explored measures aimed at addressing the security challenges.
Following the meeting, Khalid bin Salman said the talks highlighted concerns over the Iranian attacks and their implications for regional stability. In a post on X, he noted that both sides stressed such actions undermine regional peace and security and expressed hope that Iran would “exercise wisdom and avoid miscalculation.”
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia maintain a longstanding relationship built on strategic military cooperation, economic partnership, and shared religious and cultural ties. Riyadh has also remained a key partner for Islamabad through financial support and energy supplies.
Earlier in the week, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar revealed that Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement played a role in preventing more intense Iranian strikes on Saudi Arabia amid ongoing missile and drone attacks targeting United States military bases and allied facilities across the Gulf.
Read More: Pakistan Urges Iran to Avoid Attacks on Saudi Arabia
Amid rising tensions in the region, Pakistan also requested Saudi Arabia to facilitate an alternative oil supply route through the Red Sea port of Yanbu, after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted fuel shipments following the US-Israeli attack on Iran.
The defense dialogue comes in the context of the “Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement” signed last year between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh. Under the agreement, any attack on either country would be treated as an act of aggression against both nations.
Read More: Saudi Arabia to Redirect Pakistan’s Oil Supplies via Port Yanbu After Hormuz Disruption
Analysts say the meeting reflects the close strategic coordination between Islamabad and Riyadh as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate. Experts also note that continued diplomatic engagement among regional partners will be crucial to prevent the conflict from expanding further.
