According to a report by Dawn, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed that Pakistani military forces have been stationed in Saudi Arabia for decades across multiple domains. In an interview with CNN correspondent Ivan Watson, Lt Gen Chaudhry explained that the deployment is part of sustained political, diplomatic, and military ties between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye under the Makkah Defence Alliance.
What happened
The military spokesperson's statement came after the Foreign Office announced that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye agreed to execute collective defence commitments during an emergency meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee in Riyadh. The three nations decided to immediately move toward deploying agreed military capabilities and forces to the kingdom to counter security threats, particularly following Houthi attacks connected to the Yemen conflict.
Key facts
- Pakistani troops have maintained a presence in Saudi Arabia across various capabilities for decades, according to the ISPR chief.
- The Makkah defence pact, signed on August 7, stipulates that an attack on one signatory country is considered an attack on all three.
- Defence Minister Khawaja Asif clarified on Geo News that only Saudi forces are directly participating in combat, while Pakistani and Turkish forces provide support, with Pakistan performing reconnaissance.
- Military chiefs from Pakistan, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia previously held urgent talks in Riyadh on September 25 regarding Houthi strikes.
- On September 18, Lt Gen Chaudhry reiterated an unconditional commitment to Saudi Arabia's security, stating Pakistan would go to any extent to defend the state.
Why it matters
According to Dawn, the agreement aims to boost operational readiness, military integration, and joint capabilities among the three partner countries to address regional security threats facing Saudi Arabia. Exact operational timelines and troop numbers were not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 07, 2026 · Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash