Pakistan says it backs Saudi Arabia under bilateral defense pact

Pakistan's defense minister said the country backs Saudi Arabia and that Pakistan's military capability would be placed at Saudi Arabia's disposal under a bilateral defense agreement between the two countries, according to a report from Mehr News.

The report noted that the minister's remarks did not address Saudi Arabia's military involvement in Yemen's conflict, where a Saudi-led coalition has been engaged for years against Houthi forces.

The defense pact referenced in the report reflects long-standing security ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, two countries that have maintained close military and economic cooperation for decades.

The report did not specify further details of the agreement's scope, such as the circumstances under which Pakistani military support could be deployed or whether the statement reflects a new or existing commitment.

Pakistan has historically balanced close relations with Saudi Arabia alongside its own foreign policy considerations in the wider Middle East, including its relations with Iran.