Pakistan says ‘substantial’ forces, resources already in Saudi Arabia under defence deal

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Weather News October 9, 2026 e-Paper

Published – October 09, 2026 11:11 pm IST – Islamabad

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pose after signing a joint defence agreement in Mecca. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Pakistan on Friday (October 9, 2026) said a “substantial number” of its forces and resources were already deployed in Saudi Arabia, reaffirming its commitment to protect the kingdom's sovereignty under the Makkah defence agreement, amid concerns over the Houthi threat.

Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan made the remarks at his weekly press briefing in response to a question on the growing threat posed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels to Saudi Arabia.

Referring to a recent meeting of defence officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye in Riyadh, Mr. Khan said the three countries had reaffirmed their unity in ensuring deterrence and safeguarding Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He said the three countries had also agreed to mobilise resources rapidly in accordance with their requirements.

“Pakistan already has a substantial number of forces, as well as resources, in Riyadh. It is now up to the organisation to assess the threat perception and operate in accordance with its own mandate,” Mr. Khan said.

He said it would not be appropriate for him to disclose operational details, including the nature and extent of any further deployment, adding that such decisions would be taken by the alliance’s headquarters.

“It is for the organisation and the alliance’s headquarters to decide how much deployment is required, when and where it should take place, and the countries that are part of the alliance will make the necessary contributions accordingly,” Mr. Khan said.

The spokesperson also rejected reports that Pakistani fighter jets were involved in cross-border operations in Yemen, describing them as speculative.

“As regards your question about Pakistani fighter jets being involved in cross-border operations, this is speculative news, which has also been refuted by the Minister for Information,” he said.

Mr. Khan said Pakistan's forces had been deployed in Saudi Arabia since 1982 in one capacity or another, sometimes under logistical arrangements and sometimes as part of training missions.

He added that deployments had again taken place following the signing of the bilateral defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last year and the trilateral arrangement this year.

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye on August 7 following a summit in Mecca. The trilateral defence pact stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be considered an attack against all.

Following the escalation of Houthi attacks, the pact's Strategic Political and Defence Committee met in Riyadh on October 5 and decided on the deployment of military forces in the Gulf kingdom.

Khan said the Makkah alliance is a defensive organisation intended to defend the three countries against aggression.

“Therefore, these forces would not cross the border into Yemen to launch attacks against the Houthis. However, they would, of course, be utilised to defend the country’s territory and safeguard its sovereignty,” he said.

The spokesperson said that the attacks on Saudi Arabia were indeed a matter of great concern for Pakistan, given that approximately 2.5 million Pakistanis reside in the Kingdom, and their numbers are growing.

He said a Pakistani truck driver in Yemen was also killed in a drone attack, showing a risk of people falling victim to this escalation.

ALSO WATCH Watch: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye sign mutual defence pact

“That is why Pakistan has consistently advocated de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy. At the same time, we remain committed to protecting Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and providing our community with all the necessary support for their welfare,” the spokesperson said.

He also said that Pakistan stands in unwavering solidarity with the Kingdom

“In line with the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, our commitment to Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security remains resolute. We reaffirm the Kingdom’s legitimate right to defend its people and protect its critical infrastructure,” Khan said.

Published – October 09, 2026 11:11 pm IST

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defence

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Fonte: The Hindu – International