Web Desk: Pakistan will fulfil its collective defence commitments to Saudi Arabia under the reported Makkah alliance with Türkiye, while continuing diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between the United States and Iran, the military’s spokesman has said.
Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said in an interview published by Independent Arabia on October 18 that Pakistan remained committed to protecting Saudi sovereignty and the security of Islam’s holiest sites. He also said Islamabad was engaging Tehran and other regional parties to prevent the conflict from escalating.
Chaudhry said Pakistan’s political and military leadership had maintained contact with Iran for months as tensions between Tehran and Washington persisted.
The discussions focused on restraint, reducing tensions and finding negotiated solutions to outstanding disputes, he said. Islamabad was also engaging other regional stakeholders to prevent further escalation and avert a wider confrontation.
He warned that repeated cycles of rising tensions and temporary de-escalation in the Middle East threatened long-term stability. Continued military confrontation, he added, would undermine regional interests and complicate diplomatic efforts.
When asked whether Pakistan had issued a direct warning to Iran following attacks on Saudi Arabia, Chaudhry neither confirmed nor denied that such a message had been delivered. He stressed that Pakistan’s diplomatic contacts aimed to reduce tensions and encourage a peaceful resolution.
Chaudhry reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and the protection of Makkah and Madinah.
He said Islamabad was already providing assistance to Riyadh and would continue to meet its defence commitments. However, he declined to disclose operational details, citing the confidential nature of military arrangements.
The spokesman also said reports of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia had prompted anger among Pakistan’s political leadership, military and public. He described the reaction as reflecting Pakistanis’ deep attachment to the security of Islam’s holy sites.
Chaudhry described the defence arrangement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye as a collective security framework grounded in the right of self-defence recognised under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
He said the arrangement was not directed against any particular country and had no offensive objectives. Instead, it sought to strengthen mutual security, deter potential attacks and support regional stability.
Under the framework, an armed attack against any of the three member states, whether direct or indirect, would trigger a collective response in line with their commitments, he said.
Chaudhry added that the deterrence mechanism had moved beyond a political declaration and was being implemented. Its purpose was to ensure potential adversaries understood both the members’ determination to defend one another and their capacity to respond.
The spokesman said the alliance had made progress in building its institutional structure, including the establishment of a secretariat and a strategic committee dealing with political and defence matters.
Senior officials from all three countries would participate in the framework, he said, describing it as an extension of longstanding political, military and security ties among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
He added that the arrangement would complement, rather than replace, existing bilateral defence agreements and other security partnerships.
Chaudhry said Pakistan’s commitments were intended to send a clear message to both those responsible for attacks and those supporting them. He argued that credible collective defence pledges could help deter further attacks and prevent armed groups from exploiting regional instability.
Chaudhry said the alliance was not necessarily limited to its three founding members. Other countries that shared its objectives of regional stability and collective security could potentially join in the future.
However, he did not confirm reports concerning the possible inclusion of any specific country. Decisions on membership would rest with the political and strategic leadership of the existing members, he said.
He reiterated that the arrangement was intended to strengthen peace and security rather than create confrontation with other regional states.
Chaudhry highlighted the importance of protecting maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, two key routes for international trade and shipping.
He pointed to the value of multinational cooperation in safeguarding commercial sea lanes and said regional countries increasingly recognised the need for coordinated security arrangements.
The spokesman also addressed the possibility of Pakistani military assistance to Yemen’s internationally recognised government. He said he was not aware of any formal request for such assistance, adding that Pakistan would assess the matter if a request were received.
According to the Independent Arabia report, the alliance was established in August 2026, and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia provided an early test of its collective defence commitments.
Chaudhry’s remarks underscored Islamabad’s attempt to balance diplomatic engagement aimed at containing regional tensions with its stated commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security.
Read more: Saudi Arabia-Türkiye-Pakistan Makkah Alliance a Positive Step: Iranian President
