Pakistan on Monday confirmed that the country's troops are participating in a major military exercise on "counter-terrorism" being held in Saudi Arabia. In response to a media question regarding joint military exercise in Saudi Arabia, Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that given the close fraternal ties, Pakistan and Saudi-Arabia have co-operated in the field of defence for the past many decades.
This includes military exercises and intense training cooperation in various domains, he said, adding both the countries have training exchanges in which trainers are sent to Saudi Arabia for multiple training areas and Saudi Armed Forces personnel also receive training in Pakistan.
"It is in this backdrop that Pakistan is participating in a multi-nation exercise on counter-terrorism being held in Saudi Arabia," the spokesperson said. He further said that a "small" Pakistani defence contingent also remains stationed in Saudi Arabia under a bilateral arrangement. The Saudi state media reported Monday that the Kingdom launched a massive military exercise named "Thunder of the North" that will include troops from 20 Arab and non-Arab Muslim nations. The drill is taking place in King Khalid Military City in north-eastern Saudi Arabia.