Pakistan Ready to Take Defensive Measures to Protect Saudi Arabia: Military Spokesperson

Islamabad is prepared to initiate defensive steps to assist Riyadh amid heightened security tensions across the region, grounded in the bilateral Pakistan Saudi Arabia defence pact and broader regional treaties. Speaking to a Saudi news outlet on Wednesday, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated that Pakistan stands ready to protect the Kingdom's sovereignty and territorial integrity, describing the mutual commitment as absolute.

The declaration follows recurring missile and unmanned aircraft strikes directed by Yemen's Houthi group against Saudi civilian zones, including Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport and critical energy hubs. According to coalition authorities, these strikes caused multiple casualties, injured hundreds, and disrupted commercial flight schedules. Islamabad has condemned the assaults, reiterating that safeguarding the Two Holy Mosques remains an essential priority.

Pakistan has reaffirmed its non-negotiable commitment to defending Saudi Arabia's territory and holy sites.

Pakistan Saudi Arabia defence pact and trilateral alliance

Lieutenant General Chaudhry clarified the distinctions between Islamabad's collaborative frameworks. The bilateral security pact, finalised in September of last year, establishes long-term mutual assistance should aggression take place. In contrast, the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA), unveiled in August alongside Turkiye, forms a trilateral coalition focused on integrated deterrence and joint operational readiness.

The spokesperson confirmed that operationalising the Makkah alliance involves rapid deployment protocols, stepped-up readiness levels, and joint intelligence sharing. Pakistani personnel are currently stationed inside the Kingdom, carrying out defensive duties, logistical support, and combined training exercises. Chaudhry noted that while Islamabad will maintain necessary operational backing, sensitive operational specifics such as troop numbers and base locations will not be made public.

Diplomatic outreach with Iran

Alongside military readiness, Islamabad has engaged in regional diplomacy. Chaudhry highlighted an October 26 meeting held in Tehran between MJDA representatives and Iranian officials, designed to create a framework for conflict de-escalation. The discussions followed an official trip to Tehran by Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, demonstrating Islamabad's focus on dialogic solutions alongside deterrence.

Why it matters

Pakistan's reaffirmation of collective defence reinforces security guarantees across the Arabian Peninsula at a time when attacks on civil infrastructure threaten global energy transit and international aviation. By pairing deterrence through the bilateral and trilateral pacts with active diplomacy involving Tehran, Pakistan attempts to maintain stability across the wider Middle East while shielding its strategic and religious partnerships from regional spillover.