Pakistan pledges full defence for KSA

ISLAMABAD BUREAU —Pakistan is ready to take "all necessary defensive measures" to protect Saudi Arabia amid regional tensions, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said, stressing that Islamabad's commitment to the Kingdom's security, sovereignty and territorial integrity "is absolute and non-negotiable".

"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," said Chaudhry in an interview with a Saudi newspaper on Wednesday. The military spokesperson said the transition of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA) 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, the DG ISPR 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. He did not disclose specific details, saying military alliances did not make public troop numbers, deployment locations or operational arrangements.

Chaudhry said that the move towards implementing the Makkah Alliance's commitments followed recent attacks targeting Saudi Arabia. He reiterated Pakistan's condemnation of strikes 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 and civilian safety.