Pakistan Sends 8,000 Troops, 16 Jets To Saudi Amid West Asia Tensions

Key points

• Pakistan Sends 8,000 Troops, 16 Jets To Saudi Amid West Asia Tensions Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: May 18, 2026, 20:05 IST Pakistan expands military presence in Saudi Arabia under Joint Strategic Defence Agreement, deploying JF-17 jets, air defence systems and troops to boost regional security.
• Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (L).
• (File pic) Pakistan has significantly expanded its military presence in Saudi Arabia under the Joint Strategic Defence Agreement signed between the two countries last year.
• CNN-News18 was the first to report the development on April 11. The deployment reportedly includes 8,000 Pakistani troops, a squadron of fighter aircraft, air defence systems and anti-drone guns stationed in the kingdom to strengthen regional security coordination and operational readiness amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.
• According to sources, the Pakistani contingent includes nearly 16 fighter jets, largely JF-17 fighters jointly developed...