ISLAMABAD, Oct 09 (Alliance News): Pakistani troops are already present in Saudi Arabia across multiple capabilities and operational domains, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said, highlighting the longstanding military cooperation between the two countries.
Responding to a question from CNN about whether Pakistani personnel were already deployed in Saudi Arabia under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, Lt Gen Chaudhry said Pakistani forces had maintained a presence in the kingdom for decades.
He emphasised that the emerging defence cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye was built on longstanding diplomatic, political, military and people-to-people relations rather than being a new development.
The remarks came after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye agreed to implement their collective defence commitments and facilitate the rapid deployment of agreed military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia.
According to a joint statement shared by Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Riyadh on Monday.
The three countries said the deployment would follow approved arrangements and their respective national laws, with the objective of strengthening military readiness, integration and collective defence capabilities.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August. Under the pact, an armed attack against any one of the signatories is considered an attack against all, reflecting their commitment to enhanced strategic and security cooperation.
