DG ISPR says Pakistan is giving Saudi Arabia 'whatever support' it needs as Houthi attacks continue

Key takeaways

• Pakistan's military spokesman says Pakistan is giving Saudi Arabia "whatever support is needed" for its defence, and will keep doing so.
• Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), made the remarks in an interview with Independent Arabia that aired on Sunday.
• He described the Makkah defence alliance of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye as purely defensive, but said an attack on any member, direct or indirect, would bring a collective response.
• He did not give details of the support, saying no alliance makes those specifics public.
• He said Pakistan is also talking to all sides, including Iran, to lower tensions.

What the DG ISPR said

Speaking about recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, Lt Gen Chaudhry said the kingdom's sovereignty, territorial integrity and the security of the Two Holy Mosques were "non-negotiable" for Pakistan. Because of that, he said, the support Saudi Arabia needs "is being provided and will be provided", Dawn reported.

He said public anger in Pakistan over the attacks ran "from a young boy and girl up to our political and military leadership", and that there could be no "ifs and buts" on the safety of the holy sites.

On the alliance, he said the three countries agree that it has "no offensive intent". He pointed to Article 51 of the UN Charter, which covers collective self-defence, and said the pact sends a clear message that anyone attacking one of the three would face a joint response. If deterrence failed, he said, it would be re-established "by all means" available to the three countries.

Iran, Yemen and the wider region

Asked whether Pakistan had warned Iran about the Houthis, he said Pakistan has been in contact with all parties, including Iran, with the aim of restraint and "dialling down the escalation". He said widening the conflict only helps "those who are interested in chaos in the region".

According to The Express Tribune, when asked about direct military help to Yemen's government, he said he did not know whether Pakistan had received an official request, but that Pakistan would study any request and decide on it.

He also said:

• The alliance is not aimed at any one country, but any actor that threatens regional peace "automatically interacts" with its deterrence.
• Saudi Arabia has set up a multinational maritime defence coalition for shipping routes such as Bab al-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz, and a Pakistani naval officer is its deputy commander.
• The door is open for other countries to join. On reports that Egypt and Syria are interested, he said that decision rests with the leadership of the three member states.

Background

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have two defence arrangements: a bilateral Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement and the Makkah Joint Defence Alliance, which also includes Türkiye. Earlier this month, the three countries held an emergency meeting under the alliance and agreed to deploy forces and capabilities to the kingdom quickly, Dawn reported.

What to watch

• Whether the alliance announces any formal decision on new members, such as Egypt or Syria.
• Any official request from Yemen's government for direct Pakistani military help, and how Islamabad responds.
• Whether Pakistan's diplomatic contacts with Iran help ease the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.