DG ISPR says Pakistani troops present in Saudi Arabia 'for decades' across multiple domains

ISPR Director General, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, disclosed during a CNN interview that Pakistani troops have been stationed in Saudi Arabia for "decades" and across various domains. Addressing CNN correspondent Ivan Watson, Chaudhry affirmed the presence of Pakistani forces in the kingdom, stating that the Makkah Defence Alliance, comprising Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye, is not a new development but rather a result of sustained diplomatic, political, military, and people-to-people relations among the three nations.

The remarks followed a meeting of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Riyadh, where Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye agreed to deploy military forces in the kingdom. The Foreign Office later confirmed that the committee decided to swiftly implement collective defense commitments and enhance readiness, military integration, and the collective capacity to counter threats.

The Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia in Yemen were cited as a reason for the heightened military presence. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, also present at the meeting, mentioned that Saudi Arabia had made gains in Yemen and that Pakistan and Turkiye were providing support, although Saudi troops were the ones engaged in direct combat operations.

Asif reiterated Pakistan's commitment to stand by Saudi Arabia against the Houthis, both diplomatically and practically, in accordance with the terms of the Makkah Defence Alliance.