Pakistan, a longstanding ally of Saudi Arabia, has expressed an unconditional commitment to the defense of the Kingdom amid escalating attacks from Yemen’s Houthi rebels, saying it would go to “any extent” to defend the country — home to Islam’s holiest sites and one of largest oil exporters in the world.
The latest iteration of Pakistani commitment to Saudi defense came in Pakistani Army Spokesperson’s remarks to Arab News as fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis pushed the Middle East deeper into turmoil amid ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict.
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, who heads the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations, said Pakistan firmly stands by Saudi Arabia.
EXCLUSIVE: Pakistan’s defense commitment to Saudi Arabia is “unconditional,” and it is already “there” to protect the Kingdom, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry tells Arab News: “I think the words express themselves fully once we say that we are there” https://t.co/694ZY1zKWc pic.twitter.com/uZKRS7VRID
— Arab News (@arabnews) September 17, 2026
The Houthis are an Iran-aligned rebel group that have made gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast near the strategic waterway and launching missile and drone attacks on Saudi territory. Riyadh has responded with increased airstrikes on Houthi positions.
This week, the Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthis accused the rebels of targeting the holy city of Makkah, sparking outrage across the Muslim world. The Houthis swiftly rejected the allegation as a “lie.”
Deep-Rooted Ties and Strategic Partnership
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have long shared deep historical, cultural and strategic ties. The Kingdom is the world’s largest oil exporter, and Pakistan imports a significant portion of its oil from Riyadh. The two countries have also deepened their defense cooperation in recent years.
Last September, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement” in Riyadh, pledging that any attack on either nation would be treated as an act of aggression against both.
EXCLUSIVE: The political & military leaders of Pakistan & Saudi Arabia remain in “continuous communication,” Pakistan’s military spokesperson says in exclusive interview with Arab News https://t.co/694ZY1zd6E pic.twitter.com/y2YyYYUYnl
— Arab News (@arabnews) September 18, 2026
Last month, the two countries, along with Turkiye, signed the Makkah Defence Alliance, which stipulates that an attack on one member state would be treated as an attack on all. Its inaugural meeting was held in Istanbul on August 31, where it was decided that Pakistan would initially head the alliance’s secretariat for three years.
The three members have underlined that the alliance is intended for collective deterrence and is defensive in nature. “There’s nothing aggressive. There are no regional aspirations. It is collective deterrence,” Chaudhry told Al Arabiya English a few days ago.
Pakistan Pledges Full Support
In the interview with Arab News, General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan stands fully with Saudi Arabia “both diplomatically and physically.”
“I would like to underscore the word physically,” he said. “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 emphasized that the people of Pakistan stand “shoulder to shoulder” with their Saudi brothers and sisters, adding: “There should be no doubt about it. In a nutshell, we are there and will continue to defend the kingdom of Saudi Arabia against any aggression.”
🇮🇷🇾🇪 Iran is pushing back on claims that it’s calling the shots in Yemen…
Foreign Ministry spox. Esmaeil Baghaei said the Houthis are an “independent Yemeni party” that makes its own decisions, while accusing others of using the conflict to drive a deeper wedge between Islamic… pic.twitter.com/91q4hLHmWk
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) September 14, 2026
The chief army spokesperson noted that Pakistan’s politico-military leadership remains in continuous contact with Saudi leadership. At the same time, he said, Pakistan is working “very earnestly and sincerely” with regional countries and others to find a “negotiated, peaceful outcome of this complex situation.”
He reiterated that Pakistan “remained not only committed, but we are already there for the protection of Islam’s holiest sites and the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
“Our commitment to Saudi security is unconditional,” he said. “It stems from a deep-rooted, historical and unbreakable bond between the people of Pakistan and the people of Saudi Arabia, and between the political and military leadership of both countries.”
“So, nothing stops us. Nothing bars us. Nothing hesitates our commitment. Whatever is required, whatever is asked, we will go to any extent for that.”
Regional Diplomacy and Peace Efforts
Regarding Wednesday’s phone call between Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Lt Gen Chaudhry said Pakistan’s politico-military leadership remains in continuous communication with Saudi leadership on all such matters.
He added that Islamabad is consulting regional governments to seek “a negotiated and peaceful outcome” to the wider crisis.
JUST IN: Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif:
“My assessment is that Iran as a state is not supporting the Houthis.
I do not think Iran will open another front when it is already involved in a conflict in this region.
These informal arrangement’s the way they operate do… pic.twitter.com/Ox6HImoG5k
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) September 17, 2026
He described the Islamabad memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran in June as “a consensus document which we think provides the only real pathway forward for getting out of this complex military situation.”
When asked whether Pakistan expected to bring Washington and Tehran back to negotiations soon, the military spokesperson gave no timetable, saying Islamabad continues to search for common ground despite mistrust, “spoilers” and “detractors.”
Kiran Asim is a writer who covers the U.S., Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East. Her reports and analyses look at the geostrategic issues and contemporary developments and their economic and political implications. She also writes about society and education.
Muhammad Luqman is Associate Editor at Views News Now. He writes on wide-ranging issues including economy, South Asia, the Middle East, agriculture, economy and innovation. Luqman has worked some of the leading news organizations and won acclaim for his original and research-based works.
Asim Tanveer is a seasoned journalist working for TV and electronic and print media outlets. He has been working for some of the world’s leading news organizations including Associated Press (AP), Reuters, BBC, CNN, CNBC, Star TV, Voice of America and The New York Times for more than 30 years. He has won several awards for his live coverage of events that include a Reuters News Agency World Award and the Pride of Performance award in 1997.
