Pakistan deploys jet squadron, thousands of troops to Saudi Arabia amid escalating Iran war tensions

Pakistan has deployed 8,000 troops, a squadron of fighter jets ‌and an air defence system to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defence pact, ramping ​up military cooperation with Riyadh even as Islamabad serves as the main mediator in ⁠the Iran war.

The deployment, the full scale of which is reported here for the first time, was confirmed by three security officials and two government sources, all of whom described it as a substantial, combat-capable force intended to support ‌Saudi Arabia’s military if the kingdom comes under further attack.

Pakistan’s military and foreign office and Saudi Arabia’s government media office did not respond to requests for comment on the deployment. The ‌full terms of the defence agreement, signed last year, are confidential, but both sides have said ‌it ⁠requires Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to come to each other’s defense in the event ⁠of an attack.