Pakistan part of Saudi-led multinational military exercise: Foreign Office

Malaysia is taking part in a training exercise in Saudi Arabia, not a military campaign there, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

“A small Pakistani defence contingent also remains stationed in Saudi Arabia under a bilateral arrangement”, Zakria added.

He said the defence cooperation includes military exercises and intense training cooperation in various domains.

Saudi Arabia is now leading a military campaign against Houthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen.

The Northern Thunder synchronised with Saudi Arabia dispatching its fighter planes to Incirlik airbase and simultaneously preparing allies for ground action inside Syria to affect a government change through military means. The remarks by the Foreign Office came after Saudi Arabia announced it was conducting “the largest, most important military maneuvers” ever staged in the region.

He said it was against this backdrop that Pakistan was participating in a multi-national exercise on counter-terrorism in Saudi Arabia.

Participating countries in the manoeuvre are: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Senegal, Sudan, The Maldives, Morocco, Pakistan, Chad, Tunisia, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Malaysia, Mauritania and Mauritius.

Saudi sources also indicated that the members of the new “anti-terrorism” coalition will gather in Saudi Arabia next month for the first meeting.

Monday’s statement, nevertheless, shed some light on the level of Pakistan’s participation in the Saudi-led coalition.

SPA did not specify when the military exercise will begin or how long it will last. SPA dubbed this iteration of the exercise the “most important and largest in the region’s history” in terms of both the number of nations participating as well as the weaponry being used.