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The strategic mutual defence agreement signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia aims to ensure security stability for Saudi Arabia while fostering economic stability for Pakistan, a top source has told CNN-News18. A top defence official who witnessed the drafting of the Pakistan-Saudi Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement has provided exclusive details of the agreement. As part of the agreement, Pakistan will deploy substantial military forces in the Arabian Peninsula to protect Saudi Arabia from any aggression. In return, Saudi Arabia’s significant financial investment will bolster Pakistan’s economy, making it more competitive. The deployment from Pakistan, the source said, will include four military brigades, two air force squadrons, and two naval fleets stationed in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Pakistan plans to establish advanced air defence and rocket force command in collaboration with Saudi Arabia. Pakistan will also supply military equipment, ammunition, mortars, tanks, and short-range missiles to Saudi Arabia. Initially, Pakistan will deploy 25,000 soldiers across various Saudi military bases and cities. Each Pakistani soldier will earn a minimum of 6,000 Saudi Riyals or approximately 1,600 USD per month, which is 200 USD more than a UN peacekeeping soldier. A single Pakistani military brigade is composed of eight units, and each unit consists of 850 soldiers. The four brigades will include armoured, artillery, infantry, and rocket forces units. For command operations in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan will appoint a three-star lieutenant general, two major generals, and eight brigadiers. Pakistani air force and naval officials will collaborate with their Saudi counterparts in joint operations, training, and exercises. Saudi Arabia is interested in acquiring Chinese technology similar to Pakistan’s, prompting Riyadh to sign a defence deal with Islamabad to procure Chinese military equipment for parallel defence against any threats. Saudi Arabia is keen to purchase JF-17 Thunders from Pakistan and J-10Cs from China, and discussions with Beijing about 5th generation jets to counter any potential threats from Israel are anticipated. In return, Saudi Arabia will invest 10 billion USD in Pakistan’s infrastructure, economic, mining, energy, and security sectors. This investment aims to protect Pakistan from future economic defaults and sanctions. Moreover, Saudi Arabia will boost its bilateral trade with Pakistan from 5 billion USD to 15 billion USD annually across all sectors. Riyadh will also use its diplomatic channels to normalise Islamabad’s relations with the world, especially with New Delhi and Kabul, striving to maintain a balanced and healthy environment between India and Pakistan. The agreement includes the establishment of a hotline for intelligence sharing and cooperation. A top Saudi defence delegation is expected to visit Pakistan this month for security talks, and Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz and Field Marshal are scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia in the last week of October. CNN-News18 had recently reported that Saudi Arabia was not seen involved in the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict recently.
