Riyadh (TDI): Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman reaffirmed the deepening strategic partnership between Riyadh and Islamabad during talks with Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, on Thursday.
Prince Khalid, who is also Saudi Arabia’s deputy prime minister and a senior member of the kingdom’s defense establishment, met with Field Marshal Munir to discuss broad defense cooperation and reaffirm mutual commitments to peace and security.
In a social media post, the Saudi minister said that the discussions focused on “our joint efforts to promote global peace and security in a manner that serves our shared interests.”
The meeting comes against the backdrop of evolving regional dynamics and heightened tensions in the Middle East, particularly linked to ongoing conflict in Gaza and shifting geopolitical alliances.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have a long history of military cooperation, but last September that relationship was elevated through a formal bilateral defense pact under which both nations pledged to regard an attack on one as a threat to the other.
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The agreement, part of a broader effort by Islamabad to strengthen ties with key regional partners, underscores the mutual security interests shared by the two predominantly Muslim nations.
The pact has been widely discussed as part of Pakistan’s broader diplomatic re-engagement in the Middle East, where Islamabad is striving for a more assertive foreign policy beyond its traditional focus on South Asia.
Pakistan’s participation in regional forums such as President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace and continued advocacy for Palestinian statehood and unhindered humanitarian aid access to Gaza further exemplify Islamabad’s diplomatic assertiveness on Middle Eastern issues.
Despite the public enthusiasm from Saudi officials, Pakistan’s military has so far released only limited details about the outcome of Thursday’s meetings.
Analysts suggest the discussions may also include cooperation on defense production, intelligence-sharing and expanded military exercises, although formal confirmation remains pending.
Relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia extend beyond defense cooperation into economic and labor partnerships, with Islamabad exploring ways to expand manpower exports and investment links following the defense pact.
