DG ISPR says Pakistan ready to take defensive measures to protect Saudi Arabia

Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan is ready to take all necessary defensive measures to protect Saudi Arabia amid regional tensions. He made the remarks in an interview with a Saudi newspaper on Wednesday, according to The Express Tribune.

He said Pakistan's readiness rests on the Joint Strategic Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan and on the Makkah Alliance. In his words, "the security of Saudi Arabia and the Two Holy Mosques is a top, non-negotiable priority".

Chaudhry said the move towards putting the Makkah Alliance's commitments into practice followed recent attacks on Saudi Arabia. According to the Saudi-led coalition, missile and drone attacks by Yemen's Houthi group have left several people dead and hundreds injured. The attacks have hit civilian and energy infrastructure, including Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport and oil facilities, and disrupted air travel. Pakistan has repeatedly condemned them and reaffirmed its solidarity with Saudi Arabia.

Moving the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA) into practical implementation would require measures for rapid deployment of agreed forces and military capabilities inside Saudi Arabia, he said. These include raising readiness levels, strengthening military integration, sharing intelligence and coordinating exclusively defensive operations.

Chaudhry said Pakistani troops are already stationed in Saudi Arabia, mainly giving defensive support and taking part in exercises and manoeuvres. Pakistan will keep providing the required support, including military personnel, capabilities, training and logistical help. He gave no details on troop numbers, deployment locations or operational arrangements.

He said the bilateral agreement provides a framework for defence cooperation between Islamabad and Riyadh and a structure for mutual support in the event of aggression. Both it and the MJDA are purely defensive, he said. The bilateral pact was announced in September last year. The MJDA, involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, was formalised on August 7.

Chaudhry called for restraint, de-escalation and diplomatic engagement. He said representatives of the MJDA and Iran met in Tehran on October 26 to set up a framework for de-escalation and stronger regional cooperation. Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, took part after visiting Tehran days earlier. Participants agreed to continue dialogue among the four countries, without disclosing further details.