Pakistan Will Go to Any Extent to Defend Saudi Arabia: DG ISPR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s armed forces have reaffirmed their commitment to the security of Saudi Arabia, with Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry saying Islamabad would go “to any extent” required to defend the Kingdom.

In an interview with Arab News, the DG ISPR said Pakistan stands with Saudi Arabia “both diplomatically and physically” and described the country’s commitment to Saudi security as unconditional.

Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan’s commitment also extends to the protection of Makkah and Madinah and the security of Haramain Sharifain.

“There should be no doubt on that,” he said, adding that Pakistan would continue to defend Saudi Arabia against aggression.

He linked Pakistan’s position to what he described as a deep-rooted historical bond between the peoples, political leaderships and armed forces of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

The remarks came amid a series of attacks attributed to the Houthi militia against Saudi Arabia.

Saudi authorities said debris from an intercepted drone killed one person and injured two others in Taif on Thursday. More than 80 people have reportedly been wounded in recent attacks, according to Arab News.

Saudi authorities have also reported the interception of a drone near restricted airspace around Makkah, while the Houthi militia has denied targeting the holy city.

The DG ISPR did not disclose whether Saudi Arabia had requested additional Pakistani troops, air-defence systems or direct military participation against the Houthi militia.

He also did not specify the operational details of Pakistan’s commitments under the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement. The full operational provisions of the agreement have not been made public.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office had previously said that no Pakistani military response was being discussed at that stage, while stressing that Islamabad would fulfil the terms of the defence agreement when required.

Alongside its security commitment to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan is continuing diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing the wider Middle East conflict from escalating.

Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan’s political and military leadership remained in close contact with Saudi authorities and that Islamabad was consulting regional countries in pursuit of a “negotiated and peaceful outcome” to the broader crisis.

He also described the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the United States as a consensus document that Pakistan believes provides a pathway toward resolving the current military confrontation.

Pakistan already maintains a military presence in Saudi Arabia, and the two countries have strengthened defence cooperation through bilateral and trilateral security arrangements.

The latest statement from the DG ISPR comes as Saudi Arabia faces growing security pressure from attacks attributed to the Houthi militia and as regional military tensions continue to threaten energy infrastructure and maritime routes.