Saudi and Pakistani troops started late Sunday a joint military exercise near the kingdom's border with Yemen, Saudi state news agency SPA reported. Major General Fares bin Abdullah, a senior Saudi commander, told SPA that the drills were part of a series of pre-planned exercises aimed at enhancing the kingdom's military efficiency. "The exercise is not related to any current military operations," he added. He did not say how long the drills would last. For his part, the oldest Pakistani officer in the Pakistani forces Brigadier Jaweed Iqbal said that the exercise aims to exchange experiences and raise the level of efficiency and performance in the military forces of both countries, pointing out that Pakistan maintains close military ties with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.