1,671 Pakistani soldiers deputed in Saudi, NA told

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Defense Minister Khurram Dastgir on Tuesday informed the National Assembly that as many as 1, 671 Pakistani armed forces personnel have been deployed in Saudi Arabia followed by 629 in Qatar and 66 in United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In his written reply to the Assembly, Dastgir said that 912 personnel are deployed under Saudi Ministry of Defence while 759 are under the Ministry of Interior of the kingdom.

In further breakdown of the statistics, the minister told the Lower House that 742 out of 912 personnel belong to the army, 108 are from the navy and 62 are from the airforce, whereas, out of 759 officials from armed forces working under Saudi Ministry of Interior, 653 are from military, 56 from naval forces and 50 from the air force.

Moreover, the Pakistani forces are serving in seven other countries, the minister mentioned in his reply.

After Saudi Arabia, the highest number of Pakistani military personnel is deployed in Qatar with the total of 629. 155 are from the army, 433 from navy and 107 are from the air force, the minister added.

Furthermore, only one Pakistani soldier is deployed in Australia, 15 in Bahrain, four in Brunei and six in Jordan.

According to the minister, the personnel are deployed in these countries under different MoUs and agreements with the respective countries.