One dead, 3 wounded in Saudi-Pakistan military training

E-Paper | June 04, 2026

RIYADH: One soldier was killed and three others wounded on Wednesday in a live-fire military exercise between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, official media said.

A military official told Dawn.com that initial information coming from Riyadh suggests that no Pakistani solider has been killed.

The report on the SPA website quoted an official source at the Saudi Ministry of Defense saying, “a non-commissioned officer has died and three other officers have sustained injuries during live-ammunition shooting related to the Saudi-Pakistani al-Samsam 5” exercises in Baha, in the kingdom's southwest.

The condition of the wounded was reported as stable.

The pre scheduled Saudi-Pak joint exercise al-Samsam-5 is being held in Taif since March 29. At the time of commencement a Saudi commander had said that exercise has nothing to do with military operations in Yemen.

At least 292 Pakistani troops are participating in the joint exercise which is held annually. Last year the exercise was held near Jhelum in Pakistan.

The incident occurred as Pakistan debates whether or not to join a Saudi-led coalition battling Shia rebels in neighbouring Yemen.

Read: Parliamentarians speak out against intervention in Yemen

Saudi Arabia has asked its longstanding ally to contribute planes, ships and ground troops but Pakistan has so far resisted.

The coalition on March 26 began air strikes against the Houthi rebels.

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Waseem

Apr 09, 2015 01:01pm

It is very unusual about weapon traning

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Ahmed USA

Apr 09, 2015 01:03pm

Inna Lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un... Rest in peace brave soldiers... Ameen...

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Jainy

Apr 09, 2015 01:09pm

Unfortunately those died in war against Yemen cause there hasn't been any military training in progress currently. Not a valid excuse.

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srk fan

Apr 09, 2015 01:13pm

good to see pakistan not learning any lesson from history

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varntvar

Apr 09, 2015 01:18pm

Why is Pakistani media calling them rebels and Shia. When they are neither rebels not all Shia. They are primarily Zaidis, who don't consider themselves completely Shia. There are also sunni groups fighting with them to create a non-sectarian state. Why call them rebels?

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prakash

Apr 09, 2015 01:19pm

Casuality even before joining the conflict

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Karthik

Apr 09, 2015 01:20pm

oops...that doesnt sound right...looks like some soldiers have already been sent to fight in yemen... If you have already denied it due to public pressure, then you have to come up with some other excuse for the death!

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Usman IU

Apr 09, 2015 01:24pm

I hope they wouldn't Pakistani. However, it is part of life.

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Zeezoo

Apr 09, 2015 01:24pm

perhaps reports should report the facts only,its not training , its joing exercise going on with live ammunition. so lets not confuse the masses to tilt opinion in one direction

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Shobhit

Apr 09, 2015 01:24pm

Begs to question whether its a training at all given the debate and given the location of the incident which is very near to Yemen.

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Shafiq khan

Apr 09, 2015 01:27pm

Why is there such a secracy? How many newspapers knew of this training which Pakistani military men are engaged in the Kingdom ? why have the newspapers failed in their duty to journalism ? They expect us to believe the Saudi Arabia press reports that no Pakistani was injured. I would not believe any report attributed to the Saudis , they are neither honest nor c redible in the eyes of the civilised world.

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saz

Apr 09, 2015 01:30pm

How can only training cause such casualties? Are they unaware how to use weapons? It seems Pakistan's Govt is just cheating Pakistani public and cabinet. These soldiers must be participating in Yemen attacks hence killed and injured. Pakistani Govt should be tried in court over lying and subjecting lives of Pakistani soldiers in danger as well as supporting a criminal coalition responsible for international war crimes.

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Honey Badger

Apr 09, 2015 01:31pm

Ok so this is First blood drawn, Now what more these Saudis want ( No matter whoes Blood it is ) What more do they want in this unwanted war

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khanm

Apr 09, 2015 01:36pm

I thought were are debating the issue, to send the troops or not to send... are we there already.. and if we are why are we wasting the time in national Assembly... Any truth is better than indefinite doubt.folks...The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.

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Ahmed Shaikh

Apr 09, 2015 01:37pm

Or maybe they are already fighting in Yemen together and using this as an alibi.

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saz

Apr 09, 2015 01:37pm

This is serious issue needs pure evaluation and investigation what caused injury and death.

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Jason

Apr 09, 2015 01:42pm

This is what happens when Made In China stuff is used

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Naseem

Apr 09, 2015 01:43pm

Seeminly they are very clumsy…… And the real conflict has not even begun!!

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M. Saeed Awan

Apr 09, 2015 01:47pm

Nothing unusual as playing with weapon has same results. Good that both countries are getting closer which will be fruitful in future.

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usman

Apr 09, 2015 01:54pm

something seems very strange about these casualties.

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rony

Apr 09, 2015 01:58pm

@Usman IU USA funds not coming so now its saudis

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Haider Rehman

Apr 09, 2015 01:58pm

RIP!

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Haider Rehman

Apr 09, 2015 01:59pm

@prakash It's an annual joint training event, unrelated to Yemen.

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Nadim

Apr 09, 2015 02:02pm

Its a soft way of telling the nation that we are involved in Yemen war. Supremacy of Parliament PMLN style.

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ilyas

Apr 09, 2015 02:14pm

@prakash that's not war-related. It was just routine exercises.

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Majid Khan

Apr 09, 2015 02:27pm

@prakash casualty you meant?

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Moosa

Apr 09, 2015 02:28pm

They are Houthi rebels...not Shia rebels. Plz do not paint this as Shia Sunni war!! And Houthi group is made up of various people of different sects and color.

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Merchant

Apr 09, 2015 02:28pm

Do Saudis care about any Pakistani casualties? All they "demand" is unconditional military support from Pakistan!!

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Apr 09, 2015 02:34pm

Is there going to be a follow up article with details?

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zubaida khan

Apr 09, 2015 02:42pm

@Waseem live fire exercises are always dangerous. And casualties are common. But you don't send soldiers to war without it.

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zubaida khan

Apr 09, 2015 02:43pm

@srk fan and what lesson would that be? Do not stand by your friends in their hour of need?

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Zak

Apr 09, 2015 02:44pm

Something fishy here, Mr. Sharif is hiding something from the nation.

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Rizwan

Apr 09, 2015 02:53pm

GOD save Pakistan ,PML N is pushing the country to open War .

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ash

Apr 09, 2015 03:05pm

Saudi should train Pakistan military before joining the conflict.

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Haroon

Apr 09, 2015 03:13pm

They can't even have a war 'game' or practice without losing men... pathetic army depending on other nations to save them ...

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Saeed Masood

Apr 09, 2015 03:16pm

Sad..very sad

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M.Saeed

Apr 09, 2015 03:18pm

Training with live ammunition? Very unusual to lose soldiers even before their deployment.

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Bachabassi

Apr 09, 2015 03:22pm

Is it really military exercise or Yemen WAR?

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Apr 09, 2015 03:27pm

They already killed Pakistani soldier...we should stay far away from the Saudis

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Azmeen

Apr 09, 2015 03:28pm

Sad to know the loss of life & injuries.

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s.khan

Apr 09, 2015 03:39pm

why to train hard when some one else can fight for you,wow

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Nutter

Apr 09, 2015 03:53pm

Doesn't sound very convincing. What's going on?

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Factual

Apr 09, 2015 03:54pm

Conspiracy theorists at it again?! Without proof but then again.....

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rukhsar

Apr 09, 2015 04:08pm

@varntvar you are correct...!!! but media has spread wrong news.. Yemeni rebels are not shia, and Iran has not support them.

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Sacred

Apr 09, 2015 04:21pm

I'm totally against intervening in Yemen with the Saudis. This is not war. Why should we get into it?

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rich05

Apr 09, 2015 04:43pm

military trainning excercise when there is a war.going on ? its fishy

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Dr Carla

Apr 09, 2015 04:48pm

Probably many commentators commenting the truth but they may not be moderated. Pak, be honest whatever you do, tell your people and tell the reasons why you are doing it, sometimes it may not be popular. No wonder why no one trust Pakistan. Cold war is over, war on terror is no more priority for US. Pak will starve to death soon if you continue this attitude.

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rival

Apr 09, 2015 04:51pm

dead while traning...than what will happen when they fight..

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j.Khan

Apr 09, 2015 05:01pm

No kidding. People are not stupid.......... A 34 year man, with degree in law and no experience in army is heading Saudi army. Now it seems he is also leading Pakistan army too............... A country who is suffering from war since 1979, its politicians are thinking to go for war in Yemen....... to please that 34 year old prince.........because the prince like war..............

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Last Word

Apr 09, 2015 05:05pm

Such accidents normally happen during live grenade throwing training in which there is one instructor along with one or two trainees.

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Sunil

Apr 09, 2015 05:19pm

In an unprofessional training, mishap likely to occur.

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kulwant singh

Apr 09, 2015 05:28pm

Such accidents do happen it is the part of Military life but even then sorry for the loss of a soldier, rest in peace.

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Shikhar Soni

Apr 09, 2015 05:30pm

Are these the war preparations? If these soldiers cannot even stand in a scripted condition designed for training purpose, then how would they be able to stand in actual war condition where it is uncertain. This is very shocking about a nation who stands onj fifteenth rank in world's most powerful military nations. this rank is very huge.

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Assad

Apr 09, 2015 06:08pm

@varntvar The report is from AFP. Not from the Pakistani media.

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JUSTICE

Apr 09, 2015 06:23pm

This proves how competent Saudi Soldier are, Saudi have never done anything by themselves, they always relays on foreign labor. Yemeni are fighting for their rights within their country borders, they did not attack Saudi kingdom, it's shameful that Saudi Arabia have attacked a muslim country and killing innocent civilian and freedom fighters.

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Rehman Hassan Sattar

Apr 09, 2015 06:35pm

@Waseem I come from a military family and it is very common in militaries all across the world. Many soldiers die not just during weapons training even during endurance tests. Although the ratio is very very minor but it is there.

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Ragu

Apr 09, 2015 06:38pm

The Saudis are not used to doing any hard labor in their country and import workers from all over Asia. The same thing applies to importing soldiers to do their battles. Pakistan can and will provide such soldiers, for a price. There is nothing wrong or surprising about this.

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HAIDER

Apr 09, 2015 06:42pm

40 percent of Saudi army is Yemani people. Smell something went wrong . Please bring back Pakistan army, its matter of self esteem and national pride.

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Abdul Malik

Apr 09, 2015 07:07pm

Why do we ever hold military excercise with Saudi Arabia? What do the Saudis know about military. The excercise has everything to do with Yemen. The Saudi commander should stop making a fool of the Pakustani Nation. We are not stupid.

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Vijay

Apr 09, 2015 07:16pm

If Saudi's cannot conduct proper training how the heck they are going to fight Yemeni rebels? I think Saudis consider Pakistani soldiers as expendable.

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Zak

Apr 09, 2015 07:21pm

@saz it can happen. In 2002 when India mobilized hair war against pakistan, they lost 700 in the process of mobilization.

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Zak

Apr 09, 2015 07:21pm

Undoubtedly, Saudi botch up. Pakistan army is too professional for such mistakes.

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Sunil USA

Apr 09, 2015 07:22pm

Pakisthan want to d help quitely By Saudi is leaking to the world . So ultimately Pak have joined the Yeman war .

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Ahsan

Apr 09, 2015 07:22pm

This is an absurd excuse: Die during military exercise. Who they are trying to fool. This is not a new thing. Saudis always buy Pakistani lives for their safety.

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V PRAKASH

Apr 09, 2015 07:45pm

@Majid Khan Yes I spelled it wrongly sorry

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L.Ahmad

Apr 09, 2015 08:04pm

Why can't Saudis find enough soldiers in their army?

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home

Apr 09, 2015 08:33pm

@L.Ahmad haha..I think you should go to Saudi Arabia or watch some documentary on that country..all the work there is done by Indians Pakistanis n Bangladeshis..like most ppl, iam also waiting for their oil to run out!!

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bkt

Apr 09, 2015 08:49pm

The Saudis know that Pakistan is in a full scale war against terror on its own soil and yet they wish to seek our help in attacking an underdeveloped country just because they are Shias. This is preposterous. The Saudis should stop causing trouble for all their neighbours and spend their money on their own poverty stricken Saudis of which there are now millions, instead of on violence and getting over their paranoia. Poor Saudis need your help, Highnesses!

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fawad

Apr 09, 2015 08:59pm

I thought Pakistan Govt. was claiming they are not providing any training, any instrument/ hardware till senate approval!!! Finally Pakistani got involved in OTHER'S war.

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prada

Apr 09, 2015 09:36pm

@Shafiq khan yeah u come from the most civilised country 75 percent of which h is illiterates

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anony

Apr 09, 2015 09:38pm

Condolences to the martyred soldiers. Long live Pak-Saudi friendship. Let the enemies hate.

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GREEN JAGUAR

Apr 09, 2015 09:55pm

Pakistan conducts joint military exercises with many nations including the USA, UK, most Muslim and Arab nations as well. This is standard operating procedure. BTW, Indians not only conduct such programs with Israel, India also does covert operations in the USA with the National Security Agency to learn new technology on how to use surveillance against Pakistan.

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Apr 09, 2015 10:41pm

After this incident, Saudis may re-evaluate their offer. May hire soldiers from other countries. Perhaps more well trained!

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Dr. Sadaf

Apr 09, 2015 11:09pm

During military exercises live ammunition is not used.

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asif

Apr 10, 2015 12:00am

Unfortunately the entire world see mercenaries be it Bahrain Jordan afganistan we are ready to send our forces I pray that this time we proved them wrong

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Afzal Mir

Apr 10, 2015 12:01am

I hope our government is not lying to us and this accident does not involve the Yemeni crisis.

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Freeman

Apr 10, 2015 12:07am

Exercises with live ammunition? Never heard it before. Something looks fishy.

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sukhera

Apr 10, 2015 12:51am

@varntvar .They are Houti shia rebels because they are fighting against the elected government of Yemen. They have been trained in Iran. Iran supplied the weapons to destabilize Yemen and the make the Sunni majority country ruled by Shias like Syria. The first thing the Houties do after capturing cities and towns is to replace the Sunni Imams with a Shia Imams in the Masajids even though the majority of the population in the areas is sunny. Iran is involved in Syria to help Bashir government against the people of Syria. They are also helping Iraqi army against IS who are Sunnis. Please go to PBS program front line and watch the Journalists reports from Houtis captured areas.

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Syed

Apr 10, 2015 01:02am

Looks like a lot of people are just assuming a lot of stuff. Pak govt has already stated there are around 1000 mon combat troops there and they are participating in these exercises. No more no less.

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CYRUS

Apr 10, 2015 01:07am

More accidents happen in training than civilians would think. They can only be held to a minimum. Sometimes live grenades are dropped on the ground or a mortar round gets stuck in the tube. It no Pakistanis were hurt. Just leave it at that. It unfortunately is the norm not the exception.

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Najeeb

Apr 10, 2015 01:38am

In the battle field there is more casualties, how they will tell about that? so it mean that they are not in the war yet.

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Apr 10, 2015 02:16am

I love Pakistani politics. Saudi wants Pakistani troops, parliament wants debate, Nawaz wants to be PM but can't give up his Saudi insurance policy, so he gives everybody what they want. Lol. Next, they will take the soldier's bodies and throw them on the LoC, and claim they died due to unprovoked Indian firing.

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Agha Asad Raza

Apr 10, 2015 06:25am

This appears to be a premeditated story that has left so many things unsaid!

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Sami Qureshi

Apr 10, 2015 06:27am

Baha is close to Yemen-SA borders . What sort of training was going on near the war zone?

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jagmohan

Apr 10, 2015 11:06am

Houthis are also human beings, to differentiate them as zaidis/half shias or half sunnis or non-sunnis needs deep thought.Every one think and pray for early end to on going war. There is majority of innocent men,women and children facing death specter,hunger,no food,no water and no medicine besides poor tribal life,peace is the need of hour.Let there be call from every body to stop fighting and sit down to solve problem amicably.

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aftab_alamkhan@yahoo.com

Apr 10, 2015 11:39am

Such training exercise shoujd not be ended up in deaths and wounds of soldeirs. What they will do in battle field?

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rehan

Apr 10, 2015 02:20pm

Such exercises actually include live fire and a small mistake and gap in co-ordination can cause injuries or death . I was surprised to see 80+ comments here with almost everyone reading analyzing an accident in one way or another except how it actually was : an accident . I guess there is no dearth of "conspiracy theorists" in Pakistan or India.

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Ignoramus

Apr 11, 2015 10:17am

Hahahahha...seriously man!

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Rashid Sultan

Apr 11, 2015 02:39pm

@Shafiq khan Well said brother. And we are not Arabs nor Iranians. We are Pakistanis of south Asia.

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Shahpur

Apr 11, 2015 08:12pm

Pakistan should withdraw all troops immediately from Saudi Arabia. It is not safe for the Pakistan troops.