The 7th meeting of the Pakistan-KSA Bilateral Defence Industrial Forum was successfully held on October 10, 2024, in Riyadh.
The meeting brought together high-level delegations from both nations, with a focus on strengthening defence cooperation and addressing regional security challenges.
The Pakistani tri-services delegation was led by Lt Gen Muhammad Avais Dastgir, Chief of General Staff (CGS) of the Pakistan Army.
On the Saudi side, the forum was chaired by H.E. Engr Talal Bin Abdullah Al Otaibi, Assistant Defence Minister. Both leaders underscored the longstanding and strategic partnership between the two countries, especially in the defence sector.
During the forum, Lt Gen Muhammad Avais Dastgir reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued commitment to supporting the capacity-building efforts of the Royal Saudi Defence Forces.
He highlighted the robust defence ties between the two nations, noting that Pakistan has consistently provided training and expertise to its Saudi counterparts.
H.E. Engr Talal Bin Abdullah Al Otaibi expressed deep appreciation for Pakistan’s achievements and sacrifices in the global fight against terrorism.
He lauded Pakistan’s valuable contributions to regional peace and stability, acknowledging its role as a key player in maintaining security across the Middle East and South Asia.
The discussions also focused on the evolving challenges facing global and regional security. With the rapid advancements in modern defence technologies, both sides agreed that there was a pressing need to enhance cooperation in critical defence capabilities. The forum reviewed progress on ongoing areas of collaboration and explored new opportunities for partnership.
The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to further strengthening defence industrial cooperation between the two brotherly nations, in line with their shared goals of maintaining peace and security in the region.
