ISLAMABAD: In a significant step toward deepening defence ties, the naval chiefs of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia held high-level talks on Tuesday, focusing on regional maritime security and expanding military cooperation. The meeting, held at the Naval Headquarters in Islamabad, saw Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf welcome Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) Chief Vice Admiral Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Ghuraybi with a ceremonial guard of honour.
The visit comes months after a joint special forces exercise conducted in Karachi in February, where the elite Special Service Group of Pakistan Navy (SSG-N) and RSNF’s Special Operations Forces completed a high-intensity training drill, showcasing growing operational coordination between the two militaries.
According to the Pakistan Navy’s Public Relations Directorate, the two commanders discussed pressing regional maritime challenges, joint security interests, and new avenues for defence collaboration — including training and strategic coordination. They also reviewed the success of Exercise Naseem Al Bahr-XV, a bilateral naval drill held earlier this year in the North Arabian Sea.
Admiral Ashraf briefed his counterpart on Pakistan Navy’s pivotal role in maintaining maritime peace through Regional Maritime Security Patrols (RMSP). In response, Vice Admiral Ghuraybi lauded the Pakistan Navy’s professionalism and its consistent support in training RSNF cadets — both at the Pakistan Naval Academy and aboard PN ships — calling it “instrumental in shaping the next generation of Saudi naval officers.”
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The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening military-to-military cooperation, emphasizing the “brotherly and time-tested” relationship between the two armed forces. The Pakistan Navy expressed confidence that the Saudi naval chief’s visit would serve as a catalyst for boosting joint maritime security initiatives in an increasingly volatile regional environment.