CASS Islamabad Hosts Saudi Command and Staff College Delegation to Strengthen Strategic Defence Cooperation

Islamabad: The Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS), Islamabad, hosted a delegation from the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Command and Staff College, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on 7 January 2026. The visit underscored the growing importance of the aerial domain in contemporary and future conflicts, while also highlighting the need to further strengthen cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia—two longstanding strategic partners. As an independent think tank, CASS continues to engage with national and international academics and practitioners to promote informed discourse on national security in its broader context.
Welcoming the delegation, President CASS, Air Marshal (Retd.) Javaid Ahmed, highlighted the depth and longevity of Pakistan–Saudi Arabia relations, noting that bilateral ties date back to 1947. He recalled that the first formal accord between the two countries—the Friendship Agreement—was signed in 1951. He further outlined Pakistan’s evolving security challenges and explained how these have shaped the development and modernisation of its armed forces. He added that the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia has played a pivotal role in further strengthening and consolidating bilateral defence cooperation.
Following the welcome address, detailed presentations were delivered on key findings from CASS research as well as the salient features of emerging and future aerospace developments. The ensuing question-and-answer session focused on threat assessments in the Middle Eastern theatre and corresponding mitigation strategies. Discussions also explored potential modalities for future cooperation between the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Command and Staff College and CASS.
The visit concluded with a shared commitment to enhancing academic engagement and strategic dialogue in the domain of aerospace and security studies.