Military boots in Saudi Arabia, petro dollar in Pakistan: What’s inside Riyadh-Islamabad defence pact

Under the Saudi Arabia-Pakistan mutual defence agreement, Pakistan will deploy approximately 25,000 soldiers to Saudi Arabia to assist with the kingdom’s security, conduct joint operations, and train Saudi forces in exchange of Saudi investments to the tune of $10 billion, a top source told CNN-News18.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement on September 17 in Riyadh. A joint statement declared that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both”.

The full text of the agreement has not yet been released. In its absence, contradictory statements from Pakistan have led to confusion regarding the nature and scope of the pact.

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Quoting a senior defence official who witnessed the drafting process, CNN-News18 reported that the core arrangement involves Saudi financial support to stabilise Pakistan’s economy in exchange for Pakistani troops, equipment, and military expertise to bolster Saudi Arabia’s security. The agreement also involves Pakistan helping Saudi Arabia acquire advanced Chinese military equipment like fighter planes.

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Pakistan will deploy four army brigades comprising armoured, artillery, infantry, and rocket units; two air force squadrons; and two naval fleets to Saudi Arabia, according to CNN-News 18.

In total, around 25,000 soldiers will be stationed at various locations across the kingdom under the command of a lieutenant general. Two major generals and eight brigadiers will also be deployed.

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Pakistani air force and naval personnel will collaborate with their Saudi counterparts in joint operations, training programmes, and military exercises.

Beyond troop deployment, Pakistan will assist in establishing advanced air defence and rocket force command structures in partnership with Saudi Arabia.

The agreement also includes the supply of military equipment, ammunition, mortars, tanks, and short-range missiles from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia.

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Saudi Arabia is expected to seek Chinese fighter planes such as the JF-17 and J-10, and aims to collaborate on the development of a fifth-generation fighter jet to counter potential threats from Israel.

In exchange, Saudi Arabia will invest $10 billion in Pakistan’s infrastructure, economy, mining, energy, and security sectors. These investments are intended to shield Pakistan from future economic instability.

Saudi Arabia will also support Pakistan diplomatically, helping to improve its relations with countries such as Afghanistan and India, the report stated.

On the economic front, Saudi Arabia also has plans to increase bilateral trade with Pakistan from $5 billion to $15 billion annually across all sectors.