Pakistan slams Reuters claim on military deployment in Saudi Arabia as false, distorted
Tehran - BORNA - The Pakistan Today newspaper reported that security sources stated recent Western media coverage of Pakistani soldiers and air assets being stationed in Saudi Arabia offers a fragmented view of the historical defense ties between Islamabad and Riyadh, ignoring the institutional foundations of this partnership.
Reacting specifically to a report by the Reuters news agency—which claimed that Pakistan had deployed 8,000 military personnel, a fighter jet squadron, and air defense systems to Saudi Arabia under a defense pact—the Pakistani security sources declared that such reports lack proper context and distort the true nature of their bilateral defense relations.
As Pakistan actively mediates between Iran and the United States to end the war, these security sources emphasized to *Pakistan Today* that military cooperation between Islamabad and Riyadh is not a temporary, reactive measure influenced by recent regional developments. Instead, it is part of a structured, institutionalized framework developed over decades. They warned that attempting to link joint exercises and current deployments to ongoing regional tensions creates a "distorted narrative."
According to the media outlet, the sources highlighted the strategic depth of the relationship, describing it as far beyond a mere military alliance. They noted that ties are rooted in deep religious, cultural, political, and economic commonalities that cannot be viewed solely through a geopolitical lens. Furthermore, the spiritual dimension was underscored, with sources stating that the people and armed forces of Pakistan view their historical responsibility toward the security of the Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina as a matter of pride and a mission that transcends conventional defense arrangements.
Reiterating Pakistan's commitment to the "Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement" and other bilateral protocols, the sources asserted that all deployments, training programs, and cooperation forms take place within established institutional mechanisms. They characterized these interactions as strictly "defensive and stabilizing," warning against misinterpreting them as aggressive actions linked to speculative regional scenarios.
The security sources also recalled recent statements by the Pakistani military spokesperson, reiterating that Saudi Arabia's security is of "vital importance" to Islamabad and that the Kingdom's stability is closely linked to broader regional peace. Rejecting one-sided narratives, they described the relationship as mutually beneficial, noting that Riyadh has consistently backed Islamabad during economic challenges through investments, energy aid, and financial support.
The security sources concluded by warning that reducing comprehensive bilateral defense cooperation to mere geopolitical maneuvers risks undermining the depth, trust, and institutional character of Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations.
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