RAWALPINDI┬а- Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has reaffirmed Pakistan's unconditional commitment to Saudi Arabia's security, declaring that Pakistan stands with the Kingdom "diplomatically and physically" and is "already there" to protect the Two Holy Mosques.
"To Any Extent Required"
In an interview with┬аArab News, the DG ISPR stated:
"Pakistan fully stands with the Kingdom, diplomatically and physically. We are already there to protect the Haramain Sharifain and Saudi Arabia, and will go to any extent required by the Saudi leadership."
When asked directly whether "we are already there" meant Pakistan currently has a physical military presence in Saudi Arabia, Chaudhry responded:┬а"I think when we say we are there, that itself says it all."
He emphasized that Pakistan's commitment to safeguarding the Two Holy Mosques and the Kingdom is┬аunconditional, rooted in deep historical and religious bonds between the two nations.
Context: Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia
The statement comes amid escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi cities. On Tuesday, Saudi air defenses intercepted a hostile drone south of Makkah, with coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Malki describing the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims as a┬а"red line."
The Houthis denied responsibility for the attack, calling the Saudi accusation a "fabrication." The Institute for the Study of War assessed the drone may have been targeting Saudi military or oil infrastructure near Yanbu rather than the holy city itself.
Defence Agreements in Force
Pakistan's commitment rests on two agreements:
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Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA)┬а- signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in September 2025, stipulating that any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.
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Makkah Joint Defence Agreement┬а- signed on August 7, 2026, in Makkah by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo─Яan, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Under this trilateral pact, an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be considered an attack against all three.
The Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan confirmed earlier this week that "some deployments" of Pakistani forces have already been made in Saudi Arabia under the SMDA, while declining to disclose operational details.
Pakistan's Unwavering Position
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has stated there is "not a single doubt" that any attack on Saudi Arabia would trigger the alliance's collective response, warning that┬а"the response will be harsh."
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his message following the attempted drone attack on Makkah, reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment:┬а"Pakistan stands unwaveringly, shoulder to shoulder with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the defence of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for the security and sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain - a duty that every Pakistani carries close to their heart."
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