Pakistan Military Spokesperson Confirms Troops in Saudi Arabia Under Makkah Defence Pact
In an interview with US media CNN, the DG ISPR said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained close defence ties for decades and Pakistani troops have also remained stationed in the Kingdom for decades.
Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has confirmed the presence of Pakistani military personnel in Saudi Arabia, saying troops from different domains are stationed in the Kingdom under longstanding defence cooperation and the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
In an interview with US media CNN, the DG ISPR said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained close defence ties for decades and Pakistani troops have also remained stationed in the Kingdom for decades.
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistani personnel currently present in Saudi Arabia under the Makkah agreement belong to different military domains.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s longstanding defence cooperation was further strengthened by the bilateral defence agreement signed between the two countries in September 2025.
In the months following that agreement, information that emerged in April 2026 indicated that Pakistan had placed a contingent in Saudi Arabia comprising capabilities from the land, maritime and air domains, including Pakistan Air Force JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft.
The deployment information predates the latest interview and forms part of the broader background to Pakistan-Saudi defence cooperation.
Makkah Defence Pact Moves Towards Operational Implementation
The DG ISPR’s latest confirmation comes days after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye agreed to make necessary military forces and capabilities available for immediate deployment in Saudi Arabia under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, an emergency meeting of the pact’s Strategic Political and Defence Committee was held in Riyadh on Monday, attended by representatives of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
The meeting decided to move forward with the immediate implementation of collective defence commitments and agreed to provide the necessary military forces and capabilities for deployment in Saudi Arabia.
The decision represents a significant step towards translating the trilateral defence framework into operational measures.
In a joint communiqué, the three countries reaffirmed that the security of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye constitutes an integral part of their collective security.
The communiqué said translating the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement into concrete measures demonstrates the credibility of the three countries’ commitment to collective defence.
The latest developments follow increased defence coordination among the three countries, including meetings between their military leadership and political and defence officials aimed at strengthening intelligence sharing, military coordination and collective preparedness.
