Pakistan Deploys Jets to Saudi Arabia Amid Ceasefire Talks

Pakistan deployed fighter jets and support aircraft to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, marking its first major military commitment under a mutual defense pact between the two nations, even as Islamabad hosted high-level talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

The Saudi Ministry of Defense announced the arrival of the Pakistani Air Force contingent at King Abdulaziz Air Base in the kingdom's Eastern Province. The deployment, consisting of combat and support planes, is intended to enhance joint military coordination and operational readiness while supporting regional stability, according to the ministry's statement. A senior Pakistani government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasized that the forces are positioned for defensive purposes only and not for any offensive operations.

The move follows a series of Iranian missile and drone strikes on Saudi targets over recent weeks, including attacks on key energy infrastructure such as the Jubail petrochemical complex and a U.S. embassy facility. Those incidents damaged facilities, halted operations at several sites, and resulted in the death of at least one...