RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir held a key meeting with Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud in Saudi Arabia on Saturday to review the rapidly evolving Middle East security situation, particularly Iran’s recent missile and drone attacks on the Kingdom.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the two leaders discussed the seriousness of the security situation arising from Iranian strikes and deliberated on coordinated measures to counter them under the framework of the strategic mutual defence agreement signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last year.
Both sides stressed that unprovoked aggression undermines regional security and stability and diminishes prospects for peaceful resolution of disputes.
“They expressed hope that the brotherly country Iran would exercise prudence and avoid any miscalculation while supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at peacefully resolving the crisis,” the ISPR statement said.
Earlier, the Saudi defence minister also confirmed the meeting in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that discussions focused on Iranian missile and drone attacks on the Kingdom and the steps required to halt them.
“We stressed that such actions undermine regional security and stability and expressed hope that the Iranian side will exercise wisdom and avoid miscalculation,” he wrote.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share longstanding strategic relations anchored in defence cooperation, economic partnership and shared religious and cultural ties. Riyadh has historically been a major source of financial support and energy supplies for Islamabad.
Earlier this week, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar revealed that Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts helped prevent more extensive Iranian strikes on Saudi Arabia amid escalating tensions across the Gulf.
The region has witnessed heightened military activity following missile and drone attacks targeting United States bases and allied facilities in the Gulf.
In a related development, Pakistan recently requested Saudi Arabia to facilitate an alternative oil supply route through the port city of Yanbu after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted energy shipments following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
The meeting also comes months after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in Riyadh, under which both nations pledged that any attack on either country would be treated as aggression against both. thanks pt
