ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is ready to take "all necessary defensive measures" to protect Saudi Arabia, a top army general has said, amid regional tensions and a series of attacks on the Gulf country's oil facilities and airports by Yemen's Houthis in recent months.
In an interview with a Saudi newspaper on Wednesday, Pakistan military spokesman Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stressed that Islamabad's commitment to the Gulf Kingdom's security, sovereignty and territorial integrity "is absolute and non-negotiable,” The Express Tribune newspaper reported.
"Pakistan is ready, in light of current circumstances and based on the Joint Strategic Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan and the Makkah Alliance, to take all necessary defensive measures to defend the Kingdom," he said.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement” in Riyadh in September last year, pledging that any attack on either country would be treated as an “act of aggression against both.”
They later signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement along with Turkiye to support each other in case of an attack by a third country.
Chaudhry said the transition of the agreement into the practical implementation phase of its collective defence commitments would require measures to ensure the rapid deployment of agreed forces and military capabilities inside Saudi Arabia.
These measures include raising readiness levels, strengthening military integration, sharing intelligence and coordinating exclusively defensive operations, he said.
Chaudhry said Pakistan's readiness was guided by the current circumstances, the Joint Strategic Defence Agreement between Islamabad and Riyadh, and the commitments under the Makkah Alliance.
Speaking about military presence in Saudi Arabia, he said Pakistani troops were already stationed in the Kingdom, where they performed various duties, primarily providing defensive support and participating in exercises and military manoeuvres.
He said Islamabad would continue to provide the required support for defensive purposes, including military personnel, capabilities, training and logistical assistance.
Asked whether Pakistan would reinforce its military presence or provide additional capabilities, including air and missile defence systems and intelligence-sharing support, Chaudhry said the necessary assistance would continue to be provided, without disclosing specific details.
Chaudhry said that the move towards implementing the Makkah Alliance's commitments followed recent attacks targeting Saudi Arabia.
He reiterated Pakistan's condemnation of attacks on airports, cities and civilian and economic infrastructure, saying they posed a direct threat to the Kingdom's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, while also endangering regional stability.
The attacks were a matter of deep concern for Pakistan, he said, adding that “the security of Saudi Arabia and the Two Holy Mosques is a top, non-negotiable priority”.
The spokesperson also called for restraint, de-escalation and diplomatic engagement, warning that further escalation would serve no party's interests.
On diplomatic efforts, Chaudhry said a meeting between representatives of the Makkah alliance and Iran in Tehran on October 26 was aimed at establishing a framework for de-escalation and strengthening regional cooperation.
He said the participation of Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir in the meeting reflected Pakistan's commitment to dialogue and the peaceful resolution of regional disputes.
Participants had agreed to “continue dialogue to enhance cooperation among the four countries and contribute to achieving peace and stability in the region”, he said, without disclosing details of any agreements.
Explaining the distinction between the Joint Strategic Defence Agreement signed by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, announced in September last year, and the trilateral Makkah deal, Chaudhry said the two arrangements served different purposes.
"The bilateral agreement provided a framework for defence cooperation between Islamabad and Riyadh, reflecting their longstanding partnership and establishing a structure for mutual support in the event of aggression," he said.
Chaudhry said under the agreement, the two countries aimed to deepen their strategic partnership, strengthen mutual security and continue practical defence cooperation to protect their sovereignty and vital interests.
"The MJDA, meanwhile, was a trilateral arrangement bringing together Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, with mechanisms for collective defence, joint readiness and coordination," he said.
Both arrangements were “purely defensive in nature”, Chaudhry stressed, adding that neither involved offensive intentions against any country.
Looking ahead, he said the three countries aimed to strengthen collective deterrence, deepen military integration and consolidate regional stability, the paper reported.
