JAKARTA, September 18: Pakistan will go “to any extent” to defend Saudi Arabia against aggression, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said, stressing that Islamabad stands with the Kingdom both diplomatically and physically.
The military spokesperson’s remarks come amid escalating Houthi attacks and heightened regional tensions that are testing collective-defence arrangements involving Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
“Pakistan fully stands with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, both diplomatically and physically,” Lt Gen Chaudhry said in an interview with Arab News. “And I would like to underscore here the word physically … We will go to any extent.”
He said Pakistan’s commitment extended to the protection of Saudi Arabia as well as Islam’s two holiest sites in Makkah and Madinah.
“There should be no doubt on that,” he said. “So, in a nutshell, we are there and we will continue to defend Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against any aggression.”
Lt Gen Chaudhry described Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi security as “unconditional”, saying it stemmed from deep-rooted and historical ties between the people as well as the political and military leadership of the two countries.
No Details on Possible Saudi Request
Asked whether Riyadh had requested Pakistani troops, air-defence systems or direct participation against the Houthis, the DG ISPR did not disclose whether such a request had been made.
“The politico-military leadership of Pakistan remains in continuous communication with the esteemed leadership of this Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on all these matters,” he said.
His remarks come as Saudi Arabia faces a series of Houthi missile and drone attacks. Saudi authorities said this week that a Houthi drone was intercepted south of Makkah before it could enter restricted airspace around the holy city. The Houthis denied targeting Makkah.
Pakistan Pushes for Negotiated Regional Settlement
Alongside its security commitment to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan continues diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing the wider regional crisis from escalating further.
Lt Gen Chaudhry said Pakistan’s political leadership, Foreign Office and other officials were consulting regional governments in pursuit of “a negotiated and peaceful outcome”.
He described the Islamabad MoU as “a consensus document which we think provides the only real pathway forward for getting out of this complex military situation in which we are there.”
Asked whether Pakistan expected to bring Washington and Tehran back to negotiations soon, the DG ISPR gave no timetable.
He said Islamabad continued searching for common ground despite mistrust and what he described as “spoilers” and “detractors”.
“So that effort keeps on going,” he said.