ISLAMABAD: Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Sunday described Pakistan’s defense pact with Saudi Arabia as a “major milestone” in Islamabad’s diplomatic success, noting that it would strengthen the defense and security of both nations.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the landmark Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement in September 2025. Both countries pledged in it that an aggression against one country would be treated as an attack against both. The pact formalized decades of military and security cooperation between the two allies.
Munir was speaking at a ceremony organized at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi to mark the one-year anniversary of Operation “Bunyan-um-Marsoos” on Sunday. The military launched the military operation against India on May 10, 2025, in retaliation for Delhi’s earlier strikes against Pakistan.
The military chief noted that Pakistan’s successful defense against India last year had boosted its defense exports and improved its diplomatic standing worldwide.
“In this context, Pakistan’s Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement with its brotherly Islamic country, Saudi Arabia, is a major milestone in our diplomatic success,” Munir said.
“This agreement is a historic step toward mutual defense and security, which has strengthened Pakistan’s leadership role and defense capabilities.”
The Pakistani military chief spoke about Islamabad’s recent mediation efforts between the US and Iran. He thanked Washington and Tehran for choosing Pakistan as a mediator in their conflict.
“And through our continuous and sincere efforts, we will continue making every possible attempt to live up to this trust,” Munir said.
While Pakistan has mediated between the US and Iran, it has also criticized Tehran’s attacks against Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan last month deployed a military air contingent to Saudi Arabia to strengthen joint operational readiness between the two countries, the Saudi defense ministry said.
Pakistan has reaffirmed its resolve to defend Saudi Arabia and the Two Holy Mosques multiple times in the last week, with its military saying that it considers any threat to the Kingdom as a threat to Pakistan itself.
