Pak Troops To Impart Training To Saudi Armed Forces: Senate Told

Minister for Defence Khurram Dastagir on Monday assured the Senate that Pakistani troops were only being sent to Saudi Arabia to impart training to Saudi Armed Forces instead of entangling in Yemeni conflict.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Feb, 2018 ) :Minister for Defence Khurram Dastagir on Monday assured the Senate that Pakistani troops were only being sent to Saudi Arabia to impart training to Saudi Armed Forces instead of entangling in Yemeni conflict.

In a ministerial response to a point raised by Farhatullah Babar regarding Pakistani contingent being sent to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the minister said, "the apprehension that our troops entangle in Yemen conflict is totally incorrect." He said, currently 1,600 personnel of Pakistan Army were on deputation in Saudi Arabia and 1000 more personnel were being sent to Saudi Arabia purely for training purpose.

The minister said the Prime Minister has approved deputation of additional Pakistani troops to Saudi Arabia for training and advisory purposes. He said that the assistance being rendered to Saudi Arabia was a continuation of the ongoing support and within the confines of joint Parliamentary resolution of April 2015.

He said that the planned training and advisory contingent has yet not been dispatched to Saudi Arabia. He said that the contingent would have strength of over 1000 troops of all ranks and would be dispatched shortly.

"Contingent deputed in Saudi Arabia will perform its training and advisory mission while remaining within the geographical boundaries of the Kingdom," the minister said.

He said Pakistan had also trained Saudi Armed forces personnel in various training institutions of the country.

Nearly 10,000 Saudi security personnel have got training from Pakistan so far, he said. He said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia also hold joint defence exercises regularly. Officials and dignitaries of both the countries frequently exchanged visits, he said.

He said Pakistani forces have vast counter terrorism experience and rendered supreme sacrifices in war against terrorism. The minister said training of Saudi forces were governed by 1982 bilateral protocol regarding the deputation of Pakistan's Armed Forces' personnel.

He said troops were being sent to Saudi Arabia under the bilateral protocol agreement of 1982. He said Pakistan would remain impartial in Yemen conflict and would only impart training to Saudi armed forces.

Regarding relations with Iran, Khurram said Pakistan attached great importance to its relation with Iran adding that former PM Mian Nawaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff, Minister for Defence Production, Advisor on National Security and other senior officials visited Iran.