What happened

Pakistan's Ministry of Information has dismissed a report by The New York Times claiming that Pakistan Air Force aircraft were deployed against Houthi forces in Yemen, describing the claim as fake and fabricated, according to Dawn. The article, published on Oct 7, cited an anonymous source regarding the jet deployment. In response, the information ministry advised foreign news organizations against publishing unverified reports about Pakistan's military role under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, adding that official channels will communicate any military deployments if required. The ministry also previously dismissed a Reuters report claiming that tens of thousands of Pakistani troops were dispatched to Saudi Arabia.

Key facts

  • The Makkah Defence Alliance was executed on Aug 7 between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye to build mutual deterrence, treating an assault on one signatory as an attack on all.
  • During an emergency session in Riyadh, alliance members committed to swiftly implement collective defense plans and deploy agreed military capabilities to Saudi Arabia.
  • Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that although Pakistani and Turkish forces are present in the region, combat operations are carried out solely by Saudi troops.
  • Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed that Pakistani troops have served in Saudi Arabia across multiple sectors for decades.
  • Recent hostilities involved Houthi ballistic missile strikes targeting international airports in Saudi Arabia, which Saudi authorities reported killed three individuals and injured 36.

Why it matters

According to Dawn, the official denials arrive amid rising tension between Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels following renewed hostilities in Yemen. Pakistani leadership has affirmed its diplomatic and practical readiness to support Saudi Arabia's security, while clarifying that the Makkah pact is defensive in nature. Exact operational timelines or deployment numbers were not specified in the source; please check the official notice.

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Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 08, 2026 · Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash