Pakistan sends fighter jets to Saudi Arabia under mutual defence pact

Saudi Defense Ministry says Pakistani force consists of fighter and support aircraft belonging to Pakistan Air Force

Pakistan has sent fighter jets and other military forces to Saudi Arabia to boost security under a defence pact between the two countries, the kingdom's defence ministry said on Saturday.

In September 2025, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a landmark “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement”, declaring that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both”. The pact was signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Read: KSA assures Pakistan of financial support

Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said in a statement today ​that Pakistani fighter jets and support aircraft had arrived at the King ⁠Abdulaziz Air Base in the country's Eastern Province.

“The Pakistani force consists of fighter and support aircraft belonging to the Pakistan Air Force, with the aim of enhancing joint military coordination,” the statement said, adding that it would raise the level of operational readiness between the armed forces of the two countries and support security and stability at both regional and international levels.

Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki also posted the statement on his X account.

#سعودی_وزارت_دفاع کے اعلان کے مطابق اسلامی جمہوریہ پاکستان کا ایک فوجی دستہ دونوں برادر ممالک کے درمیان طے پانے والے مشترکہ اسٹریٹجک دفاعی معاہدے کے تحت مشرقی علاقے میں واقع کنگ عبدالعزیز ایئر بیس پہنچ گیا ہے۔ https://t.co/lp58nXEOJK

— نواف بن سعيد المالكي (@AmbassadorNawaf) April 11, 2026

Riyadh and Islamabad signed the mutual defence pact in September 2025, committing both ​sides to treat any ​aggression against either ⁠country as an attack on both. That significantly deepened a decades-old security partnership.

Pakistan has long provided military support to the kingdom, including ​training and advisory deployments, while Saudi Arabia has repeatedly stepped in ​to support Pakistan ⁠financially during periods of economic stress.

The development came a day after Riyadh assured Islamabad of full financial support to address issues stemming from the Middle East conflict, during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan on Friday.

Government officials said the visiting finance minister assured his country’s full financial support to Pakistan and reiterated the kingdom’s trust in Islamabad’s role in mediating talks between the United States and Iran.

In 2018, ⁠Riyadh ​announced a $6 billion support package for Pakistan, including a $3b deposit at the central bank and $3b worth of oil supplies on deferred payment.