FO quashes speculation over Yemen combat role

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistani forces, under the Makkah Defense alliance, will not cross into Yemen to launch attacks against the Houthi militia, the Foreign Office said on Friday, seeking to clarify Islamabad's military commitments to Saudi Arabia amid escalating attacks on the kingdom and the operationalisation of a joint defence pact involving Türkiye.

Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider said the Makkah Alliance for Defence was a defensive arrangement intended to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its members, ruling out Pakistani troops crossing the border into Yemen to conduct offensive operations against the Houthis.

"These forces would not cross the border into Yemen to launch attacks against the Houthis," Sajjad told reporters during his weekly briefing. "However, they would, of course, be utilised to defend the country's territory and safeguard its sovereignty."

The clarification came as questions mounted over the scope of Pakistan's military commitments following an emergency meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee of the Makkah Alliance in Riyadh on October 5.

The meeting brought together the foreign and defence ministers and military chiefs of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye to discuss the kingdom's security situation and the implementation of collective defence commitments.

The three countries agreed to take practical steps to strengthen military readiness, integration and their collective capacity to respond to threats. Pakistan was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir.

Sajjad said Pakistan already had a substantial number of troops and resources in Saudi Arabia, adding that the alliance's headquarters would assess the threat and determine the scale, timing and location of any additional deployment.

"Pakistan already has a substantial number of forces, as well as resources, in Riyadh," he said, adding that member states would contribute according to operational requirements.

He said Pakistani forces had been stationed in Saudi Arabia in various capacities since 1982, including under logistical arrangements and training missions. Further deployments had taken place following the signing of the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last year.

The spokesperson, however, declined to discuss operational details, including the possibility of fresh troop deployments. He also rejected reports that Pakistani fighter jets had participated in airstrikes against the Houthis, describing them as speculative reports that had already been refuted by the information minister.

Asked whether a third country could be involved in the attacks against Saudi Arabia, Sajjad said it would be premature to speculate about the identities of those responsible.

The escalation has raised concerns in Islamabad over the safety of approximately 2.5 million Pakistanis living in Saudi Arabia, as well as the potential impact on travel and economic ties. Sajjad said the attacks were a matter of considerable concern for Pakistan, noting that a Pakistani truck driver had also been killed in a drone attack in Yemen.

He reiterated Pakistan's preference for de-escalation and diplomacy while reaffirming its commitment to Saudi Arabia's security.

The spokesperson also defended the alliance against suggestions that Pakistan was entering a new conflict without adequate civilian consultation. He said the arrangement reflected a whole-of-government approach, pointing to the participation of senior cabinet ministers in the Riyadh meeting.

The Makkah agreement, he added, was intended to consolidate the three countries' defensive capabilities and provide a framework for collective action when required.

 

Moscow Format

Turning to Afghanistan, Sajjad said Pakistan's participation in the eighth Moscow Format consultations on October 5 had been constructive, despite the meeting ending without a joint statement for the first time since the process began in 2017.

He said the disagreement centred on language concerning terrorism emanating from Afghan territory, an issue Pakistan considers central to its security concerns.

According to the spokesperson, the Afghan Taliban delegation objected to retaining language on terrorism that had been agreed upon at last year's meeting. Pakistan had maintained that the statement should reflect the threat posed by armed groups operating from Afghanistan, particularly those targeting neighbouring countries.

"For Pakistan, this is a substantive security issue, not merely a matter of wording," Sajjad said.

He added that the absence of a joint statement should not overshadow the importance of regional dialogue. Pakistan would decide whether to attend the next meeting after further consultations, he said, describing any commitment at this stage as premature.

Sajjad rejected allegations by Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi that Pakistan supported the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) or was conducting activities in Afghanistan's Nuristan and Badakhshan provinces.

He instead accused the Taliban authorities of allowing the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other terrorist organisations to operate from Afghan territory.

Pakistan, he said, had conveyed the locations of these groups through political and security channels, and its military strikes had targeted sites where terrorists were planning attacks against Pakistan.

The spokesperson urged the Afghan authorities to take responsibility for the security problem, saying Islamabad remained willing to develop friendly relations with Kabul if the threat from Afghan territory was addressed.

He also rejected claims that Pakistan's military actions had targeted civilians, maintaining that the strikes were precise and directed at terrorist targets.

Despite the differences, Sajjad said Pakistan remained committed to political dialogue and diplomacy, but stressed that progress would depend on the other side's willingness to address Islamabad's security concerns.

Sajjad also said Pakistan's mediation efforts between the United States and Iran remained relevant, despite the country's parallel defence commitments in the Gulf.

He said the two sides were now communicating directly and discussing proposals that included seven points, with some elements aligned with the Islamabad memorandum of understanding.

The direct engagement, he added, was itself an outcome of Pakistan's mediation efforts.

Islamabad would remain willing to facilitate further talks if requested, Sajjad said, expressing hope that the two countries would reduce tensions and reach a negotiated settlement.

"If Pakistan is needed to play its role again, it would be very appy to do so," he said.

 

PM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday strongly condemned the repeated terrorist attacks by the Houthi militia against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including the targeting of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport, resulting in loss of lives and injuries to civilians.

The prime minister, in a post on X, commended the vigilance and professionalism of the Saudi armed forces and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition in intercepting multiple ballistic missiles and their tireless efforts to protect innocent lives and safeguard the Kingdom.

"Pakistan stands in unwavering solidarity with the leadership and people of our brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," he reiterated and said that in line with the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, and recent decisions taken by its Strategic Political and Defense Committee, Pakistan's commitment to the Kingdom's sovereignty, territorial integrity and security was resolute.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said that Pakistan also fully supported Saudi Arabia's legitimate right to defend its people and protect its cities and vital infrastructure.

"The Houthi militia must immediately cease these attacks. We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia in the face of these threats," he resolved.