ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are holding negotiations to convert around $2 billion in Saudi loans to Pakistan into a deal for JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, according to a report by international news agency Reuters.
Sources familiar with the matter said the discussions could strengthen military cooperation between the two countries at a time when Pakistan is under severe financial pressure, while Saudi Arabia is seeking to reinforce its security partnerships amid uncertainty over long-term US support.
The talks reportedly focus exclusively on the JF-17 Thunder, a multi-role fighter aircraft jointly developed by Pakistan and China and manufactured in Pakistan. The total value of the potential agreement is estimated at $4 billion, with the remaining $2 billion expected to be spent on additional military equipment and support systems.
Saudi media reported that Pakistan Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu recently visited Saudi Arabia for meetings related to bilateral defense cooperation.
Retired Air Marshal Aamir Masood said Pakistan has held discussions with six countries, including Saudi Arabia, regarding the supply of JF-17 aircraft, electronic systems, and weapons. He noted that the JF-17 has been combat-tested, proven effective, and is relatively cost-efficient compared to similar aircraft. Pakistan deployed JF-17 jets during clashes with India in May 2025, described as the most intense fighting between the two rivals in decades.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a defense cooperation agreement in September 2025, under which any aggression against one country would be considered an attack on both.
Saudi Arabia has long provided financial assistance to Pakistan during times of economic stress. In 2018, Riyadh extended a $6 billion support package, including a $3 billion deposit in Pakistan’s central bank and $3 billion worth of oil supplied on deferred payment terms. The kingdom has since rolled over several repayments, including a $1.2 billion deferment last year, helping stabilize Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves.
Pakistan has recently increased its defense exports. Last month, it signed an arms deal worth over $4 billion with Libya’s National Army, which includes JF-17 fighter jets and training aircraft. Pakistan is also in talks with Bangladesh regarding the possible sale of JF-17 jets.–Reuters
