'Our commitment is unconditional': Amid Houthi attacks, DG ISPR says Pakistan will 'go to any extent' to defend Saudi Arabia

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has stated that Pakistan is committed to defending Saudi Arabia "to any extent necessary". This commitment is "unconditional" and stems from a long-standing, historical bond between the two nations. Chaudhry made these remarks in an interview with Arab News, in response to the intensifying conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The Houthis have been making gains along Yemen's Red Sea coast, near the strategic waterway, and have launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi territory. In response, Riyadh has intensified airstrikes against Houthi positions. Recently, the Saudi-led coalition accused the Houthis of targeting the holy city of Makkah, causing international outrage. However, the Houthis rejected this claim as a "lie".

Chaudhry emphasized that Pakistan stands "shoulder to shoulder" with Saudi Arabia, both diplomatically and physically, and will go to any extent to ensure the kingdom's security and the protection of the sacred cities of Makkah and Medina. He reiterated that Pakistan is already present in Saudi Arabia to protect these holy sites and would go to any length required by the Saudi leadership.

The ISPR spokesperson also highlighted that Pakistan's politico-military leadership is in continuous communication with Saudi Arabia and is working with other regional countries to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis. The Pakistani military spokesperson mentioned the recent Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as well as the Makkah Defence Alliance, both of which emphasize the principle that an attack on one member state would be treated as an attack on all.

Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to Saudi Arabia's security, stressing that the Houthi conflict should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy rather than through coercive means.