Pakistan Sends Fighter Jets to Saudi Arabia Under Mutual Defense Pact

Apr 12, 2026

Pakistan deployed fighter jets to Saudi Arabia on April 10, 2026, marking the first visible military action under a mutual defense pact signed in September 2025 by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The deployment comes as Pakistan hosts direct ceasefire negotiations in Islamabad between the United States and Iran following weeks of regional fighting triggered by the US-Israeli killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on February 28, 2026. Pakistani officials including Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Asim Munir have warned Iran about Pakistan's defense obligations to Saudi Arabia while securing assurances that Saudi territory will not be used to attack Iran. The deployment of three jets serves as strategic messaging to Tehran during negotiations, signaling Pakistan could invoke the pact if Iran refuses concessions. The relationship is underpinned by significant economic ties, with 2.5 million Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia and a pledged $5 billion Saudi investment package supporting Pakistan's fragile economy.

Pakistan's military deployment to Saudi Arabia under mutual defense pact

▪The Pakistan-Saudi Arabia mutual defence pact commits each country to treat an attack on the other as an attack on itself.
▪Pakistan deployed fighter jets to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, April 10, 2026.
▪Pakistan's fighter jets landed at King Abdulaziz Air Base in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province.
▪Pakistani Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir flew to Riyadh in early March 2026 to discuss measures to halt Iranian strikes under the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia mutual defence pact's framework.
▪Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the mutual defence pact during a visit to Riyadh in September 2025.
▪Pakistan's deployment to Saudi Arabia was the first visible military move under a mutual defence pact between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
▪Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a collective defence agreement in September 2025.
▪Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh in September 2025.

Pakistan's balancing act between Saudi Arabia and Iran

▪Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar personally warned Iranian leaders in early March 2026 that Islamabad was bound by its obligations to Riyadh under the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia mutual defence agreement.
▪Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman four days before the April 10, 2026 fighter jet deployment to pledge Pakistan would stand shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia.
▪Iran launched missile and drone strikes on what Iran described as US targets in Gulf states following the US-Israeli killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on February 28, 2026.
▪Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar secured assurances from Saudi Arabia that Saudi territory would not be used to attack Iran.
▪Imtiaz Gul characterized Pakistan's deployment of three jets to Saudi Arabia as messaging Tehran to be flexible in ceasefire talks.
▪Iranian attacks on targets in Saudi Arabia have continued, including key bases and a US embassy building.

Pakistan hosting US-Iran ceasefire negotiations

▪Senior delegations from both the United States and Iran are at the negotiating table in Islamabad with Pakistani mediators in the room.
▪Pakistan is hosting direct negotiations between the United States and Iran in Islamabad.

Economic and strategic ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia

▪Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agreed to expedite a pledged Saudi investment package for Pakistan worth $5 billion.
▪Saudi Arabia is home to approximately 2.5 million Pakistani workers.
▪Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Saturday, April 10, 2026.
▪Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir attended the meeting between Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.