Pakistan’s military has confirmed that its forces are stationed in Saudi Arabia under the Makkah defence alliance, while the New York Times reported that Pakistani fighter jets were being used in strikes against Yemen’s Houthis.
The developments come days after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye agreed to rapidly deploy forces and military capabilities to the Kingdom under their trilateral defence pact, following repeated Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi cities, airports and economic infrastructure.
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Pakistani military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed the presence of Pakistani forces during an interview with CNN on Wednesday.
“We, the forces of Pakistan, are already there. That I can assure you.”
Asked whether Pakistani troops were already on the ground as part of the Makkah alliance, Chaudhry said they had been in Saudi Arabia for decades and were present in “multiple capabilities and domains”.
He said the alliance built on longstanding diplomatic, political and military relations between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. He declined to disclose troop numbers, their capabilities or whether they could participate in operations across the Saudi border in Yemen, saying those details were classified.
Pakistani Fighter Jets Reportedly Used Against Houthis
The New York Times reported that a senior Pakistani military official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters, said on Wednesday that Pakistan Air Force fighter jets were being used in strikes against the Houthis.
A second Pakistani official told the newspaper that Pakistan’s role was expected to focus on degrading Houthi drone and missile threats through air support, rather than a ground offensive in Yemen.
The newspaper said Pakistan’s military declined to comment on the reported strikes.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting rejected the report on Thursday, saying the story “attributing the employment of PAF aircraft against Houthis is fake and fabricated”.
The ministry urged international media organisations to avoid speculative reporting about the use of Pakistani forces under the Makkah agreement, adding that the relevant authorities would provide operational details if necessary.
Col David O. Smith, a former US Army attaché in Pakistan and former senior analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency, told the New York Times that the consensus among analysts was that about 8,000 Pakistani troops had been deployed to Saudi Arabia.
He acknowledged that he did not have access to classified figures.
Smith said the troops included Pakistan Air Force and army air defence contingents and would likely help secure oil infrastructure. He added that Pakistani soldiers were unlikely to engage in direct combat with the Houthis as Islamabad sought to preserve its relationship with Iran.
Makkah Pact Activated Amid Houthi Attacks
The alliance’s Strategic-Political and Defence Committee met in Riyadh on October 5 to address the threats facing Saudi Arabia and agreed to move immediately towards implementing its collective defence commitments.
The committee approved measures to provide agreed military forces and capabilities and ensure their “rapid deployment” in Saudi Arabia, subject to approved arrangements and the three countries’ national legislation.
The joint statement condemned attacks on Saudi cities and civilian and economic facilities, as well as attempted attacks on Makkah and Madinah, and reaffirmed the three countries’ rejection of threats to Saudi Arabia’s security and territorial integrity.
Also Read | Saudi Coalition Says Missile Intercepted Near Riyadh as Houthis Target Aden Airport
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7. The agreement stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against all.
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