VELAPANTI DIARIES – 5 SAUDI ARABIA – PAKISTAN DEFENCE PACT “ The Saudi-Pakistan defence pact is a marriage of convenience between two regimes on shaky moorings, and dependent on external support to secure their continuance in power in their respective countries . ” – Col RS Sidhu Backdrop Pakistan has a deep rooted military relationship with Saudi Arabia since the 1960’s, whereby, it has been providing training facilities to all the three armed services of the Saudi armed forces, as also substantial military presence in the country. In accordance with a military protocol dated 14 December 1982 , signed between the two countries, Pakistan has stationed it’s military personnel, which at peak strength amounted to an Infantry Division and an armoured brigade, within Saudi Arabia for meeting it’s internal and external security contingencies. The advanced US military equipment purchased by Saudi Arabia has generally been operated by sizeable number of Pakistan military p...