Pakistan joins Saudi-led joint military exercise

Pakistan’s Foreign Office confirmed its troops are part of armed forces from around 20 countries for “the largest, most important military manoeuvres” ever staged by its close ally Saudi Arabia. In a statement issued Monday night, it referred to the close defence ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.  

“It is in this backdrop that Pakistan is participating in a multi-national exercise on counter-terrorism being held in Saudi Arabia,” it said. “Both countries have training exchanges in which trainers are sent to Saudi Arabia for multiple training areas and Saudi Armed Forces personnel also receive training in Pakistan,” it said, without giving details about the schedule of the military exercise. 

A small Pakistani defence contingent remains stationed in Saudi Arabia under a bilateral arrangement, it said. Saudi Arabia has termed the exercise “Thunder of the North”, and will involve ground, air, and naval forces. According to official Saudi SPA news agency, troops from around 20 countries, including Pakistan, were gathering in northern Saudi Arabia for military exercises. This includes sparking fears that these countries might also deploy ground troops in Syria. Saudi Arabia’s five partners in the Gulf Cooperation Council, and Chad, Egypt, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Senegal and Tunisia have come together, the SPA reported. 

Saudi Arabia is currently leading a military campaign against Houthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen. Pakistan has already announced it will be part of Saudi Arabia’s 34-nation alliance to fight “terrorism” in Islamic countries.