Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan’s pledge covered more than territorial defence, extending specifically to the protection of Makkah and Madinah.
Pakistan’s military on Thursday issued a strong statement on defending Saudi Arabia, with military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry saying Islamabad would defend the Kingdom “to any extent” amid ongoing Houthi missile and drone attacks.
Chaudhry, director general of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), told Arab News that Pakistan “fully stands with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, both diplomatically and physically”, stressing the word “physically” before adding: “We will go to any extent.”
Chaudhry said Pakistan’s pledge covered more than territorial defence, extending specifically to the protection of Makkah and Madinah, Islam’s two holiest sites.
Pakistan Pledges Unconditional Support
“There should be no doubt on that,” he said. “We will continue to defend Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against any aggression.”
He described the relationship between the two countries as an “emotive, deep-rooted, historical and unbreakable bond” between their people, militaries and political leaderships.
The statement marks a notably stronger formulation than Islamabad’s public position last week. Pakistan’s Foreign Office had said no military response was being discussed under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, while stressing that Islamabad would act “when the time comes”.
The agreement, signed on August 7, treats an armed attack on Pakistan, Saudi Arabia or Turkiye as an attack on all three countries. It builds on a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in September 2025.
The full operational details of both agreements have not been made public, leaving questions over what military action they would require.
Islamabad, Beijing Seek Tehran’s Help
Pakistan already maintains a significant military presence in Saudi Arabia. Reuters reported in May that Islamabad had deployed around 8,000 troops, along with JF-17 fighter jets, drones and an HQ-9 air-defence system to the Kingdom.
The latest remarks also come against reports that Pakistan and China have sought Iran’s help in containing the Houthis.
