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 said 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 Defence 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.
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.
