RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on security cooperation Thursday, following talks between the two countries' interior ministers.
The agreement comes amid continuing tensions in the Middle East despite an interim U.S.-Iran peace deal reached last month.
🚨 Breaking: Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi arrives in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, where he is welcomed by Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef
Welcome to Riyadh, Your Excellency the Minister #Pakistan 🇵🇰 #SaudiArabia 🇸🇦. 🦅 pic.twitter.com/c48HH7a8Ez
— 🇸🇦Abdulsalam Saleh (@abdulslam2017) June 30, 2026
Security Cooperation
Prince Abdulaziz signed the memorandum alongside Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Pakistan's federal minister for interior and narcotics control. The meeting was held under directives from Saudi leadership, the prince said.
The agreement expands bilateral cooperation on security issues and deepens institutional ties between the two countries' interior ministries, Prince Abdulaziz said in a statement. He said it builds on the broader strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan and reflects their shared commitment to strengthening security sector cooperation.
Prince Abdulaziz described the memorandum as a reflection of the strong strategic partnership and longstanding ties between the two nations.
The agreement follows a mutual defense pact Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed in Riyadh on Sept. 17 last year, under which an attack on one country would be considered an attack on the other. That pact marked the first time Pakistan, the Muslim world's only nuclear-armed state, and Saudi Arabia, the region's largest economy, formally committed to a joint security framework.
The new memorandum comes as tensions persist in the Middle East despite an interim peace deal between the United States and Iran reached last month. The U.S. and Iran have since exchanged fire in the Gulf, an exchange that has underscored the difficulty of turning the initial truce into a lasting settlement.
Cricket Partnership
Separately, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced plans to build a modern, international-standard cricket stadium in Jeddah as part of a joint venture with Saudi Arabia aimed at promoting the sport in the kingdom.
A memorandum of understanding for the project was signed Thursday by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the chairman of the Saudi Arabia Cricket Federation.
The Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (#SACF) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (#PCB) have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of a cricket stadium in Jeddah.
These strategic outcomes represent the partnership’s expected impact in advancing… pic.twitter.com/SuRglZ1tuW— الاتحاد السعودي للكريكت | Saudi Cricket (@cricketsaudi) July 1, 2026
Under the partnership, the two cricket bodies will work together to develop world-class cricket infrastructure and operational standards and to pursue other initiatives to strengthen the sport in Saudi Arabia. The proposed stadium is intended to meet all requirements for hosting international cricket competitions.
Naqvi said the board was proud to contribute to the growth of cricket in Saudi Arabia, adding that the partnership would further promote the sport and strengthen longstanding relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
The SACF chairman called the project an important milestone for the future of cricket in Saudi Arabia, saying the partnership would extend beyond stadium construction to developing the sport at various levels.
Naqvi first offered comprehensive support to Saudi Arabia in promoting cricket and building cricket stadiums during a visit to the kingdom in December 2024. He also invited his Saudi counterpart to visit Pakistan to attend Champions Trophy matches and proposed a player exchange program under which Riyadh could send emerging players to Pakistan for training.
