Foreign Office says Pakistan has already deployed substantial personnel and resources in Saudi Arabia, while decisions on further action will be taken under the alliance’s collective defence framework
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has confirmed that a substantial number of its military personnel and resources are already stationed in Riyadh, as the Makkah Defence Alliance evaluates growing security threats to Saudi Arabia amid escalating hostilities involving Yemen’s Houthi forces.
Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan made the disclosure during his weekly press briefing on Friday while responding to questions about Pakistan’s military commitments and the assistance being extended to Saudi Arabia under the trilateral defence agreement.
He emphasised that decisions regarding the alliance’s operational response would be determined collectively, in accordance with its mandate and assessment of the prevailing security situation.
Pakistan Reaffirms Commitment to Saudi Arabia’s Defence
The Makkah Defence Alliance, established on August 7 by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, provides a framework for collective security cooperation.
Under the agreement, an attack against any one of the three participating countries is to be regarded as an attack against all three.
The arrangement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence, protect territorial sovereignty and facilitate coordinated responses to external security threats.
Referring to an earlier joint statement issued by the three member states, the Foreign Office spokesperson reiterated their shared commitment to safeguarding Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He said the participating countries had agreed to mobilise personnel and resources rapidly whenever required.
Pakistan, he confirmed, already maintains a significant presence of military personnel and resources in Riyadh.
Alliance to Determine Further Security Measures
While reaffirming Pakistan’s commitments, the spokesperson declined to disclose specific operational arrangements or potential military responses.
He explained that the alliance itself was responsible for assessing the nature and extent of security threats before determining appropriate measures.
According to Khan, discussing operational details publicly would be inappropriate, particularly while the regional security situation remained fluid.
He also declined to speculate about the possible involvement of other countries in the ongoing hostilities.
His remarks indicated that Pakistan’s existing military presence forms part of its security cooperation with Saudi Arabia, while any additional measures would depend on decisions taken through the alliance’s established mechanisms.
Foreign Office Raises Concerns Over Houthi Activities
Addressing the escalation involving Yemen’s Houthi forces, the spokesperson criticised the group’s role in regional instability.
He described the Houthis as an armed militia engaged in activities that had contributed to prolonged insecurity across the region.
Khan noted that the group had been fighting Yemeni forces for an extended period and suggested that armed organisations could obtain military resources through various channels.
However, he declined to identify specific countries or organisations allegedly providing support to the Houthis.
Riyadh Airport Attacks Heighten Security Concerns
The Foreign Office statement came against the backdrop of intensified attacks on Saudi territory, including a deadly incident at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority confirmed on Friday that three Saudi nationals had been killed and several others injured in two attacks on the airport the previous day.
The incidents targeted airport facilities and an aircraft, causing casualties and material damage.
The attacks have heightened concerns over the security of civilian infrastructure and international aviation as the conflict involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi forces intensifies.
Yemen Conflict Becomes Major Regional Security Challenge
The renewed escalation in Yemen has emerged as a significant dimension of the wider Middle East confrontation following the United States and Israel’s military attacks on Iran beginning February 28.
The expanding conflict has increased pressure on regional security arrangements, particularly those involving countries committed to the defence of Saudi Arabia.
For Pakistan, the developments have brought renewed attention to its obligations under the Makkah Defence Alliance and the extent of its existing security cooperation with Riyadh.
The Foreign Office’s latest statement underscores Islamabad’s commitment to the trilateral arrangement while maintaining that operational decisions must remain within the alliance’s collective institutional framework.
Pakistan’s position therefore combines an established military presence in Saudi Arabia with a commitment to coordinated decision-making, leaving the assessment of emerging threats and any further response to the Makkah Defence Alliance.
