ISLAMABAD: The military leaderships of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have resolved to further strengthen their defense partnership and deepen fraternal ties, Pakistan’s state media reported this week.

The development took place when Pakistan’s Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza met Saudi Arabia’s Chief of General Staff Lt. General Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili in Riyadh on Sunday.

During the meeting, both sides discussed evolving global and regional environment and avenues for enhancing bilateral defense cooperation, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.

“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have reaffirmed the resolve to further deepen their strong brotherly ties and enduring defense partnership,” the report said.

The Saudi military leadership lauded the professionalism of the Pakistan Armed Forces and acknowledged their sacrifices in the “fight against terrorism,” Radio Pakistan said.       

During the meeting, Al-Ruwaili decorated General Mirza with the King Abdulaziz Medal (First Class) in Riyadh.

“The honor recognizes his distinguished efforts to strengthen friendship, promote cooperation, and advance Saudi-Pakistani relations,” the Saudi Press Agency said.

Several senior officers and officials from both sides attended the meeting and the decoration ceremony, the Saudi state news agency said.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have sought closer defense and economic ties in recent months, with both nations signing a landmark defense agreement in October.

The Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement was signed during Sharif’s visit to Riyadh last month. The pact stipulates that aggression against one would be treated as an attack on both. The accord was widely viewed as a move to formalize longstanding military cooperation into a binding security commitment aimed at bolstering joint deterrence.