Kamal Ghorui
Pakistan has suspended a proposed $1.5 billion agreement to supply weapons and fighter jets to Sudan after Saudi Arabia asked Islamabad to terminate the arrangement and said it would no longer finance the purchase, according to two Pakistani security sources and a diplomatic source.The development comes as Sudan remains gripped by a conflict between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, a war that has fuelled what is widely regarded as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis over the past three years. The fighting has also intensified foreign rivalry in the strategically important Red Sea nation, which is a major gold producer.Reuters had earlier reported in January that the defence deal was in its final stages and had been brokered by Saudi Arabia, though Riyadh’s role in financing the agreement had not been disclosed at the time.The proposed sale was one of several defence export negotiations pursued by Pakistan’s military after its fighter aircraft and weapons systems gained attention following clashes with India in May last year.Saudi Arabia remains one of Pakistan’s closest strategic partners and has long provided loans and financial support to help stabilise Islamabad’s struggling economy. Bilateral ties have grown stronger since the signing of a mutual defence pact last year, under which aggression against either country would be treated as an attack on both.“Saudi Arabia has signaled that Pakistan should terminate the deal after it dropped the idea of financing it,” one of the security sources said.Saudi Arabia’s government media office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Sudan’s armed forces also did not issue an immediate response. Pakistan’s military, which had not previously confirmed the negotiations, also did not comment on the report.One source said some Western countries had advised Riyadh to avoid involvement in proxy conflicts in Africa. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have supported opposing sides in several regional disputes, including the conflict in Sudan.Although both countries publicly support a diplomatic settlement, Saudi Arabia has backed Sudan’s army, while the UAE has faced accusations of providing logistical support to the RSF. Abu Dhabi has officially denied the allegation.
