ISLAMABAD: Recent high-level meetings between Pakistani and Saudi air forcecommanders have revealed Riyadh’s strong interest in deepeningcollaboration with Islamabad, particularly in multi-domain operations,following Pakistan Air Force’s demonstrated operational excellence inrecent regional engagements. Saudi leadership praised the professionalismof the Pakistan Air Force and sought enhanced joint training to leverageits rich experience in integrated warfare domains.
The discussions, held during Pakistan Air Force Chief Air Chief MarshalZaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu’s visit to Riyadh, underscored the evolvingstrategic partnership between the two nations. Saudi officials acknowledgedthe growing complexities of modern warfare and expressed desire to drawfrom Pakistan’s advancements in integrating space, cyber, electronicwarfare, and artificial intelligence capabilities into air operations.
This interest emerges amid Pakistan’s transformation into a next-generationmulti-domain force, showcased through its combat performance in the May2025 aerial engagements with India. Independent assessments confirmed thePakistan Air Force’s effective employment of advanced systems, downingmultiple Indian aircraft, including sophisticated Rafales, using integratedmulti-domain tactics that combined electronic warfare andbeyond-visual-range engagements.
Saudi Arabia, modernising its Royal Saudi Air Force under Vision 2030,views Pakistan’s operational lessons as valuable for enhancing its owncapabilities. The two air forces have a history of cooperation, includingjoint exercises like Spears of Victory and Indus Shield, where PakistaniJF-17 Thunder jets have participated alongside Saudi Tornados and F-15s.
During the meetings, both sides reviewed bilateral defence ties and agreedto expand engagement through joint training programmes and operationalexchanges. The Saudi Chief of General Staff and Royal Saudi Air ForceCommander commended Pakistan’s role in regional stability and reiteratedcommitment to the September 2025 Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement.
Pakistan highlighted its fraternal ties with Saudi Arabia, rooted in sharedvalues and mutual security interests. The air chief emphasised the PakistanAir Force’s readiness to support capacity building, including throughmultilateral exercises that foster interoperability among allied air forces.
Analysts note that Saudi interest in multi-domain operations reflectsbroader Gulf concerns over emerging threats, including missile defences andhybrid warfare. Pakistan’s experience in countering such challengespositions it as a key partner for Riyadh’s defence diversification strategy.
The collaboration extends beyond air forces, encompassing army and navaldomains, with regular joint exercises strengthening interoperability.Recent drills, such as Al Battar-II, focused on urban combat andcounterterrorism, demonstrating practical coordination between Pakistaniand Saudi special forces.
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This deepening partnership aligns with the 2025 mutual defence pact, whichtreats aggression against one as against both. It signals a shift towardinstitutionalised security cooperation, potentially including technologytransfers and co-production in defence industries.
Experts suggest that enhanced joint training in multi-domain operationscould significantly boost Saudi air power projection, integrating lessonsfrom Pakistan’s real-world applications against peer adversaries.
The visit reinforces the enduring strategic alliance, with both nationscommitted to addressing shared security challenges through professionalexchanges and operational collaboration.
Source:https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2628613/pakistan
Tags: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Air Force, Royal Saudi Air Force,Multi Domain Operations
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