What weapons has Pakistan deployed to Saudi Arabia?
On Monday, Reuters reported that Pakistan has deployed around 8,000 troops, fighter jets, and an air defence system to Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia maintain one of the warmest strategic relationships in the Islamic world, going back decades.
Following strikes by the US and Israel, Tehran reciprocated by launching attacks of its own across the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia.
Such a large deployment of troops from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia also has implications for the already-volatile Gulf region.
Is Pakistan playing a double game in the Iran war? That’s the question many are asking after it has been reported that Islamabad has secretly deployed 8,000 troops, a squadron of fighter jets and an air defence system to Saudi Arabia. The move comes as the Shehbaz Sharif-led country tries to project the image of a peacemaker in the Iran-US war
Pakistan has deployed approximately 8,000 troops, a full squadron of fighter jets and a Chinese air defence system to Saudi Arabia, in what is being seen as Islamabad's dual game in the Iran war. File image/Reuters
After the United States and Israel began their war with Iran in February, Pakistan has emerged as the key mediator between the warring nations. However, Islamabad hasn’t emerged as a fair intermediary. In the past, it has been accused of allowing Tehran to park its planes at its airbase.
And now comes another instance of its doublespeak. While it pushes for peace and diplomacy, Pakistan has secretly deployed 8,000 troops, a squadron of fighter jets, and an air defence system to Saudi Arabia.
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This has raised one key question: What is Pakistan’s end goal? We try to decode the answer.
What weapons has Pakistan deployed to Saudi Arabia?
On Monday, Reuters reported that Pakistan has deployed around 8,000 troops, fighter jets, and an air defence system to Saudi Arabia.
According to sources cited in the report, Pakistan deployed a full squadron of around 16 aircraft, mostly JF-17 fighters made jointly with China, in early April. Two of the security officials said Pakistan had also sent two squadrons of drones. Additionally, around 8,000 troops have been deployed, with a pledge to send more if needed, as well as a Chinese HQ-9 air defence system.
The news agency stated that the troops being sent to Riyadh would have an advisory and training role. However, it’s important to add that thousands of Pakistani troops, with a combat role, are already stationed in the kingdom under previous agreements.
Pakistan air Force (PAF) JF-17 Thunder jets during an air show in Karachi. File image/Reuters
Notably, the news of Pakistan’s deployment came after the Kingdom was targeted by drone attacks on the weekend. Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted three drones after they entered the Kingdom’s territory from Iraqi airspace, with Saudi defence ministry spokesman Major General Turki Al-Maliki saying Riyadh would take necessary operational measures to respond to any attempt to violate its sovereignty and security.
In response, Pakistan condemned the attacks and reaffirmed its “unwavering support” for the Kingdom’s security and territorial integrity.
Why has Pakistan deployed troops and weapons to Saudi?
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are long-time allies and have extended support to one another. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia maintain one of the warmest strategic relationships in the Islamic world, going back decades. They have been close friends since the Cold War, and both have also been close partners of the United States. Pakistan and the Saudis have trained together in the past.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, along with Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of Pakistan Asim Munir. Last year, Islamabad signed a strategic mutual defense agreement (SMDA), cementing a decades-long security partnership between the two nations. File image/Reuters
However, experts note that the magnitude would mark a major shift and could change the balance of power in the region. Moreover, the deployment from Islamabad to Riyadh once again puts a stoplight on the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement that both countries signed last September.
While the full terms of this pact remain confidential, it does mandate Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to come to each other’s defence in the event of an attack. The Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA) clearly states “that any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both”, and “aims to develop aspects of defence cooperation between the two countries and strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression.”
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The pact also includes all “military means”, meaning from armed forces to nuclear cooperation and intelligence sharing. Islamabad has openly stated that it “will make available” its nuclear programme to Riyadh if needed.
So, why is this deployment raising eyebrows?
However, Pakistan’s deployment of troops and weapons has raised concerns about the country’s credibility.
Why?
That’s because Islamabad is currently playing the role of mediator in the US-Iran conflict, which has been on since February 28. Following strikes by the US and Israel, Tehran reciprocated by launching attacks of its own across the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia.
National flags of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia flutter at Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs premises in Islamabad. File image/AFP
Then, Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif leveraged his country’s ties with Washington and Tehran to play the peace broker. In fact, representatives from the US and Iran even met in Islamabad on April 11 and 12 to try to hammer out a long-lasting peace deal. Those talks didn’t yield any positive results, but Islamabad has been continuously passing peace proposals between the US and Iran with the hope that the fighting ends.
In such circumstances, it seems duplicitous of Pakistan to send troops to Saudi Arabia while it talks peace with Iran and the US. This could result in Iran questioning Pakistan’s neutrality and result in a breakdown of the peace talks. As Moneycontrol notes, even if Islamabad argues that the deployment is defensive in nature, the optics are difficult to ignore.
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What does it mean for the Gulf region?
Such a large deployment of troops from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia also has implications for the already-volatile Gulf region.
Experts are of the opinion that such a large troop deployment increases the risk of escalation in a fragile Gulf where tensions with Iran remain at an all-time high. Tehran could view Pakistan’s move as an escalation and step up its own attacks in the region.
It also signals that the ceasefire with Iran may not hold for long.
All in all, it seems Pakistan is playing a dual role with very high risks: mediator and military partner.
It’s left to be seen if it helps or hurts Pakistan, but for now, uneasy calm remains in the region, with US President Donald Trump also announcing that he has put off military action against Tehran on the advice of his Gulf allies.
With inputs from agencies
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