Pakistan will “go to any extent” to protect Saudi Arabia and Haramain Sharifain, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Thursday, reiterating that Islamabad’s commitment to the Kingdom was unconditional.
In an interview with an international media outlet, the ISPR cheif said that Pakistan stood with Saudi Arabia “both diplomatically and physically” and will continue to defend the Kingdom against any aggression.
“We will go to any extent for the security of Haramain Sharifain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. To any extent as asked and required by our Saudi brothers,” he said.
The remarks came hours after Saudi Arabia’s civil defence announced that a Yemeni national living in the Kingdom had died during the interception of a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthis in the southwestern governorate of Taif.
A Saudi woman and a Pakistani resident were also injured in the interception. Saudi authorities have previously said that 86 people were injured in Houthi attacks this month.
The ISPR chief stated that Pakistan’s political and military leadership remained in continuous contact with the Saudi leadership and was working with other regional countries and partners to seek a peaceful and negotiated outcome to the situation.
He also reiterated Pakistan’s commitment under the Makkah Defence Agreement and the mutual defence pact between the two countries, saying that Islamabad was already committed to protecting the Kingdom and the Haramain Sharifain.
When asked whether his statement that Pakistan was “there” meant the country was physically present in Saudi Arabia, ISPR cheif said, “I think the words express themselves fully once we say that we are there.”
He said that Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi security stemmed from what he described as a “deep-rooted, historical and unbreakable bond” between the people of the two countries and their political and military leaderships.
“There should be no doubt about that. So, in a nutshell, we are there, and we will continue to defend the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against any aggression,” he stated firmly.
The remarks came a day after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif made a similar commitment, saying that Pakistan will protect Saudi Arabia whether or not a formal agreement existed, particularly if Makkah or Madinah came under attack.
Speaking on a private news channel’s programme, Asif described the protection of the holy cities as an “eternal agreement” and said that Pakistan will respond to an attack on the sacred sites regardless of any formal arrangement.
“If there wasn’t an agreement, if Saudi Arabia had been attacked, especially if the sacred cities of Makkah and Madinah were attacked, then we are bound by an eternal agreement; that is, we will protect the House of God and Madinah,” he remarked.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Makkah on August 7.
The agreement, signed by Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, is based on shared responsibility and regional ownership. It aims to promote security, peace, stability and prosperity while strengthening collective deterrence.
Under the agreement, an attack against any one of the signatory states will be considered an attack against all parties. It also remains open to actors that respect international law and share a vision of peaceful cooperation.
