Saudi Arabia in talks with Pakistan to provide anti-aircraft anti-tank weapons to Syrian rebels 2302.

Pakistan makes its own version of Chinese shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles, known as Anza, and anti-tank guided missile weapon system Baktar Shikan, both of which Saudi Arabia is trying to get for the rebels, said the source, who is close to Saudi decision-makers, requesting anonymity.

The Anza is a series of man-portable air defense missile system (MANPADS) designed and manufactured at the Institute of Industrial Control Systems, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

The Anza MK-1, Anza MK-2, and Anza MK-3 surface to air anti-aircraft missiles have ranges of 4, 5 and 6 km, respectively.

The source pointed to a visit to Riyadh earlier this month by Pakistan's army chief of staff, General Raheel Sharif, who met Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz.

Prince Salman himself last week led a large delegation to Pakistan, shortly after Saudi's chief diplomat Prince Saud al-Faisal visited the kingdom's key ally.

Jordan will be providing facilities to store the weapons before they are delivered to rebels within Syria, the same source said.

The head of the Syrian opposition, Ahmad Jarba, promised during a flying visit to northern Syria last week that "powerful arms will be arriving soon."

Rebels have long said that anti-aircraft and anti-tank rockets would help tip the balance in the battle against Assad's forces, which enjoy air superiority.