Pakistan has deployed fighter jets and support aircraft to King Abdulaziz Air Base in Saudi Arabia’s eastern province under a bilateral mutual defence agreement, following Iranian strikes on Saudi energy infrastructure that killed a Saudi national.
Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry confirmed the arrival of Pakistani forces. Reuters reported the deployment citing three sources, including a senior Pakistani official.
Dual role under strain
The deployment highlights Pakistan’s increasingly complicated position in the regional conflict. Islamabad is simultaneously hosting ceasefire negotiations between Iranian and US expert teams — talks that concluded their first in-person phase on Saturday with both sides now exchanging draft texts.
Pakistan’s bilateral defence commitments to Riyadh predate the current conflict, but activating them while mediating between Washington and Tehran raises questions about Islamabad’s perceived neutrality in the talks.
Regional implications
The Saudi infrastructure strikes that triggered Pakistan’s deployment are part of a broader pattern of Iranian attacks on Gulf energy assets, including the East-West Pipeline damage that reduced Saudi output by 1.3 million barrels per day.
For Sri Lanka, the involvement of Saudi Arabia — one of its fuel supply sources — in direct Iranian targeting adds another layer of supply chain risk. The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation’s April shipment schedule depends on stable Gulf loading terminals, and Pakistani military involvement could either deter further Iranian strikes or escalate the regional arms build-up.
