Preparations have begun to implement the Mecca Agreement amid attacks by Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia. After this, Pakistan's long-running military cooperation is once again being discussed in Saudi Arabia.
Senior military and government officials of Pakistan say that the recent promises made regarding security should be seen in the context of the old defense relations between the two countries.
There are already several defense agreements between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia regarding military training, advising, deployment of troops and other security matters.
With these agreements, the security relations between the two countries have continuously increased. With this, Pakistan has become one of Saudi Arabia's closest defense allies in the region.
Understand the latest situation, what has happened?
The discussion regarding military cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia started after the meeting of Mecca Coalition held in Riyadh on October 5.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye are included in this alliance.
At the meeting, the three countries agreed to "take necessary steps to provide mutually agreed military and military capabilities" and "ensure their early deployment" to Saudi Arabia.
This decision was taken at a time when Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia are continuing.
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As speculations regarding this deployment of troops increased, Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that Pakistan and Turkey already have presence in this area.
He told that both the countries are helping Saudi Arabia in surveillance and other works.
Khawaja Asif said in a program of Pakistani news channel Geo News on October 5, "Both countries have a presence here, but the war is being fought by Saudi Arabia's army. We are present here and are providing whatever help it needs."
Meanwhile, Pakistani army spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry told CNN on October 7 that Pakistani soldiers have been present in Saudi Arabia for several decades and "are performing a variety of responsibilities."
In response to a question on the Mecca Agreement, he said that this arrangement did not emerge suddenly.
He said that the reason behind this is the long-standing political, military and diplomatic relations between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
Later many media organizations of Pakistan also published his statement.
'Pakistan Today' newspaper wrote that for the first time, the Pakistani military leadership has publicly confirmed in detail that Pakistani soldiers are already present in Saudi Arabia and are performing "a variety of roles".
What kind of security cooperation is there between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia?
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been working together in the field of security for many decades.
Under the agreements between the two countries, Pakistani military personnel have been regularly deployed in Saudi Arabia for training, advisory and other support purposes.
The two countries signed the first defense cooperation agreement in 1967.
In 1982, this cooperation was strengthened through another defense agreement. Under this, 'Saudi-Pakistani Armed Forces Organization' was formed.
According to media reports, at that time more than 20 thousand soldiers of Pakistan were deployed in Saudi Arabia.
Even after this, such cooperation continued in different forms between the two countries.
Former Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif is currently leading the Saudi Arabia-led Islamic military coalition against terrorism. This alliance was formed in 2015.
Since when did defense cooperation increase between Saudi and Pakistan?
In September 2025, Pakistan's leading English newspaper 'Dawn' had reported that security cooperation between the two countries especially increased after the capture of the Grand Mosque of Mecca by armed people in 1979.
According to the newspaper, Pakistani special forces had helped Saudi soldiers in freeing the mosque from the control of armed people.
In February 2018, Pakistan officially confirmed that another contingent of troops was being sent to Saudi Arabia.
Officials had said that these soldiers were being sent there for "training and advice".
According to Geo News website, at that time the media wing of the Pakistani Army had said that this deployment is part of the already ongoing security cooperation between the two countries.
The army had also said that Pakistani soldiers would not be deployed outside Saudi Arabia.
'The News' newspaper quoted the then Defense Minister Khurram Dastagir as saying that the purpose of this deployment was to strengthen Saudi Arabia's ability to defend itself on the ground through military training and cooperation.
Media reports of that time said that under the existing agreements, more than a thousand Pakistani military personnel were already deployed in Saudi Arabia.
The Express Tribune, quoting security sources, wrote in February 2018 that there was "nothing new" in this deployment.
According to the report, the defense cooperation between the two countries was based on the 1982 agreement, under which arrangements were made for training, advising and deployment of Pakistani soldiers in Saudi Arabia.
According to this news, in 2018, about 1,379 military personnel of Pakistan were already deployed in Saudi Arabia. These included members of the Army, Air Force and Navy.
According to reports, the additional contingent sent later included more than a thousand soldiers.
It was said in the agreement that an attack on one country will be considered an attack on both the countries.
According to another report by 'Express Tribune', the then Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi later confirmed that Pakistani soldiers deployed in Saudi Arabia were training the forces there.
In recent years, with the increase in tension in the region, defense cooperation between the two countries has also strengthened.
In September 2025, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the 'Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement'.
This agreement states that an attack on either country will be considered an attack on both countries.
In April 2026, Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry said that under this agreement, Pakistan's soldiers and military aircraft have reached Saudi Arabia.
Recently, a report by news agency Reuters claimed that Pakistan has deployed "30 thousand to 40 thousand soldiers" in Saudi Arabia by 2025.
The report also said that after the signing of the Mecca Agreement, Pakistan has given military equipment to Saudi Arabia.
But Pakistan's Information Ministry rejected these claims on October 6, calling them "based on speculation".
The ministry said that information about military actions related to the implementation of the common defense system is confidential.
An article published in 'The Friday Times' on October 7 said that Saudi Arabia's increasing dependence on Pakistan shows that cooperation between the two countries is now moving beyond military training to direct defense operations.
The article emphasized that "Saudi Arabia still needs Pakistan's army."
Will Pakistan benefit or suffer loss?
Pakistan gets strategic and economic benefits due to close relations with Saudi Arabia.
Whenever Pakistan has been in economic difficulties, Saudi Arabia has helped it financially.
In view of the recent efforts to implement the Mecca Agreement, major media organizations of Pakistan have asked the government and the army to proceed with caution.
He has said that Pakistan should avoid getting involved in any major war.
The Friday Times article warned that Pakistan's role in "protecting Saudi Arabia" could take it "closer to the war it refused to enter into in 2015."
However, the newspaper advised Pakistan to avoid direct involvement in any other war.
The newspaper supported efforts to "protect Saudi Arabia from external attack."
But he said that "Pakistani troops should avoid sending troops to fight on the ground in Yemen."
