Pakistan Army Chief Meets Saudi Defence Minister
Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, held high-level talks with Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister, HRH Prince Khalid bin Salman, in Riyadh on Thursday to address the escalating security threats from Iranian drone and missile strikes on the Kingdom.
The meeting, confirmed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement released on March 7, 2026, focused on the “gravity of the security situation” resulting from recent unprovoked Iranian attacks. Both leaders discussed urgent joint measures to counter these threats under the framework of the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in September 2025. The pact treats aggression against one nation as aggression against both, bolstering defence cooperation and mutual deterrence amid heightened regional tensions.
The discussions condemned the Iranian actions as undermining regional security, stability, and prospects for peaceful resolution of disputes. The two sides expressed hope that Iran would exercise “prudence and sagacity” to avoid miscalculations and support de-escalation efforts by friendly countries.
The visit comes as Iran has launched multiple waves of drone and missile retaliatory strikes across Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, since late February 2026, in response to broader conflict involving US and Israeli actions against Tehran. Saudi defences have intercepted numerous projectiles targeting key sites such as oil facilities, air bases, and infrastructure in Riyadh and the Eastern Province, with reports of limited damage and fires in some incidents.
Pakistan has maintained a delicate balancing act in the crisis, with officials invoking the SMDA in diplomatic channels to deter further escalation while reaffirming solidarity with Saudi Arabia. The meeting underscores the deepening strategic partnership between Islamabad and Riyadh, rooted in historical, religious, and security ties.
