In an interview with CNN, the military spokesperson said Pakistani troops had been stationed in Saudi Arabia for decades and were operating across multiple domains.
“I do confirm that the forces of Pakistan are already there,” he said, adding that the troops had been present in the kingdom “for decades in multiple capabilities”.
Commenting on the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, he said the pact was not formed in isolation, but reflected longstanding diplomatic, political and military ties among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye formalised the trilateral security framework on August 7. The agreement is intended to strengthen defence cooperation, collective deterrence and regional stability.
A joint statement issued on Monday said the alliance had activated the practical implementation of its collective defence commitments, including the immediate deployment of agreed military forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia in response to security threats.
The decision followed an emergency meeting of the alliance’s Strategic-Political and Defence Committee in Riyadh to discuss the security situation facing the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia has faced threats from Yemen’s Houthis, who have targeted strategic and economic assets in the region.
However, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Tuesday rejected what it called speculative reporting by Reuters regarding the defence pact, saying operational details related to the collective deterrence mechanism were confidential.
A Reuters report published on October 2, citing a Pakistani official, said Islamabad had deployed between 30,000 and 40,000 troops to Saudi Arabia to help defend its land borders and assist with intercepting drones and missiles. The report added that Pakistan had not decided to send troops into Yemen in a combat role.
The latest confirmation by the DG ISPR comes amid growing regional security concerns and renewed attention to military cooperation between Pakistan and its strategic partners.
