ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia launched a two-month-long joint military exercise in the Pakistani city of Multan, the Pakistan army’s media wing said on Tuesday, part of a longstanding defense cooperation deal between the two countries.
Pakistan regularly trains Saudi officers and soldiers. In September last year, Saudi and Pakistani forces conducted the joint Naseem Al-Bahr 13 naval exercise in the Arabian Sea near Karachi, with Saudi F-15 aircraft participating in a missile firing drill for the first time.
“To enhance and strengthen the existing military cooperation between Pakistan Army and Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF), a contingent of Royal Saudi Land Forces arrived for Joint Mechanized Training in Multan Garrison,” the Pakistan army said in a statement, saying the program would go on for two months.
“The joint training is aimed at strengthening and sharing of knowledge through a comprehensive training program,” the statement said. “Drills and procedures will be practiced and tactical exercises conducted to refine the same.”
Earlier this week, Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif visited Islamabad and in a meeting with Pakistani counterpart Sheikh Rashid Ahmed agreed to enhance cooperation to counter the security challenges.
“Both sides discussed hosts of issues including regional security situation and enhancing cooperation and coordination between the ministries of two countries to meet the security challenges confronting Pakistan and Saudi Arabia,” a statement from the Interior Ministry read.
