What happened

According to Dawn, Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, announced that Pakistan is extending all necessary support to defend Saudi Arabia amid recent attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. In an interview aired on Independent Arabia, the spokesperson affirmed that the security, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of Saudi Arabia—specifically the safety of the Two Holy Mosques—are absolute and non-negotiable priorities for Islamabad.

Key facts

  • Islamabad and Riyadh are bound by two security agreements: the bilateral Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement and the trilateral Makkah Joint Defence Alliance, which also includes Turkiye.
  • The military spokesperson clarified that the alliance is purely defensive, based on Article 51 of the United Nations Charter concerning collective deterrence, and is not aimed offensively at any specific country.
  • The exact operational details and quantification of military assistance provided to Saudi Arabia were not disclosed. Not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
  • Pakistan has maintained dialogue with various regional actors, including Iran, focused on urging restraint and de-escalating conflict.
  • To protect navigation in key international waters like the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, Riyadh formed a multinational maritime defence coalition where a Pakistani naval officer acts as deputy commander.

Why it matters

According to Dawn, Lieutenant General Chaudhry emphasized the need for unity among Muslim countries, stating that escalating conflicts horizontally or vertically yields no advantages and only promotes regional instability. He stated that while Pakistan continues to advocate for negotiated solutions, the collective deterrence of the Makkah alliance will be fully utilized to guarantee the safety and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia if conflict continues. The spokesperson also noted that the alliance remains open to expanding to other nations aligned with its security goals, though reported interest from countries like Egypt and Syria remains subject to decisions by the member states' leadership.

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Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 19, 2026 · Photo by SK Sherazi on Unsplash