ISLAMABAD – Defense and political experts here Tuesday said defensecooperation between Pakistan and Kingdom Saudi Arabia (KSA) will touch newheights of friendship after the decision of Federal Government to sendadditional troops to the holy land for provision of training and advisorymissions for the Saudi armed forces.

Former Secretary Law and Order Fata and renowned defense analyst, Brigadier(Retd) Mehmood Shah told APP that Pakistan and KSA relations aredeep-rooted, historic and time-tested spreading over 50 years and thisdecision was the part of the continuity of long defense cooperation betweenthe twobrotherly Islamic countries.

He said both the countries enjoy extremely cordial relations with strongreligious, cultural and historic bonds and have commonalities of views onmost of regional and international issues.

Pakistan had trained Saudi Armed forces personnel in various training andeducational institutions of the country in the past, and that sending ofadditional troops would be purely for training and advisory missionspurposes, he explained.

Brigadier (R) Mehmood said Pakistani armed forces have vast experience inmountain warfare and counter terrorism operations and their outstandingrole has been globally recognized, adding deployment of troops at KSA wasunder the bilateral protocol agreement of 1982.Pakistan and KSA have complete harmony and view points on most of regionaland international issues by holding regular consultative sessions and arekeen to further augment regional cooperation in various fields of mutualinterest besides furthering the cause of maintaining international peace,stability and economic prosperity.

Brigadier Mehmood Shah said Parliament was the best forum to deliberate onthis important issue and a comprehensive strategy should be adopted bytaking nation into confidence on such sensitive issues.

Sardar Aurangzaib Nalota, PMLN Parliamentary leader in KP Assembly told APPthat the Government has taken a bold and accurate decision for sendingadditional troops to KSA for training and consultative mission, which willfurther strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.Saudi Arabia, he said, is a country of holy places and enhanced cooperationin defense between Islamabad and Riyadh would help prove positive forentire Muslim Ummah. – APP