Saudi Arabia appears to have renewed an earlier bid for wider defence collaboration with Pakistan as the desert kingdom remains locked in a military campaign against the Houthi militia in Yemen, Pakistani government officials and Western diplomats have told IHS Jane’s .
Speculation over a fresh Saudi bid for expanded defence co-operation with Pakistan increased on 31 December when Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Ayish, Saudi Arabia’s assistant defence minister for military affairs, met General Raheel Sharif, the Pakistan Army’s chief of staff, at the army’s general headquarters in Rawalpindi.
A statement from the Pakistan Army later said, “Matters related to regional security and bilateral defence collaboration, including training exchanges, came under discussion.” Further details were not given.
janes.com
