Pakistan 'will go to any extent' to defend Saudi Arabia: DG ISPR

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Thursday reiterated Pakistan’s “unconditional” commitment to Saudi Arabia, saying the country would "go to any extent" required for the security of the Haramain Sharifain and the Kingdom. The statement came hours after the Kingdom’s civil defence announced the death of a Yemeni national residing in Saudi Arabia on Thursday during the interception of a drone launched by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis. The Saudi-led coalition said the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims was a “red line,” vowing that the coalition would take measures to deter further attacks. Talking to Arab News in a special interview, Lt Gen Chaudhry said Pakistan fully stood with Saudi Arabia both diplomatically and physically. Read More: Makkah defence pact has reached point of implementation: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif “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 said. Reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to the Kingdom, he said the people of Pakistan stood shoulder to shoulder with their Saudi brothers and sisters. “There should be no doubt about that. So, in a nutshell, we are there, and we will continue to defend the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against any aggression,” he said. Highlighting the diplomatic efforts of the country’s leadership, Lt Gen Chaudhry said Pakistan, with the help of other regional countries and partners, was working to find a peaceful and negotiated outcome to the complex situation. He said the political and military leadership remained in continuous contact and engagement with the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Underscoring Pakistan’s commitment to the Kingdom under the Makkah Defence Agreement and the mutual defence pact between the two countries, he said Islamabad not only remained committed but was already there for the protection of the Haramain Sharifain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Also Read: Gulf on knife edge as Saudis, Houthis trade blows “We are there to protect them, and we will go to any extent further as and as required by the Saudi leadership and the people of Saudi Arabia,” he said. He said Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi security was unconditional and stemmed from an emotive, deep-rooted historical and unbreakable bond between the people of Pakistan and the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as between the political and military leaderships of the two countries. “Nothing stops us, nothing bars us, nothing is there which hesitates our commitment from going, so whatever is required, whatever is asked, we will go to any extent to that,” he said. Asked whether his statement that Pakistan was “there” meant that the country was physically present in Saudi Arabia at present, Lt Gen Chaudhry replied: “I think the words express themselves fully once we say that we are there.” The escalation ​in the Saudi-Yemen conflict runs ​as ⁠another theatre of the Iran war and could threaten Red Sea shipping after the ⁠Houthis ​seized Yemen's western coast ​and islands inside the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb. The death in ​the southwestern governorate of Taif ​is the first announced by Saudi Arabia ⁠this month since the militant Houthis ​intensified their attacks. A Saudi woman and ​a Pakistani resident were also injured in the interception. Riyadh has previously announced that 86 people ​were injured this month in Houthi ​attacks. Read More:  Makkah defence pact has no regional aspirations, aimed at collective deterrence: DG ISPR The DG ISPR’s remarks came a day after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif echoed similar sentiments, saying Pakistan would be bound to protect Saudi Arabia whether or not there was an agreement, particularly if Makkah or Madinah came under attack Talking to a private television programme, Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Ke Sath, the minister vowed to defend the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, describing the protection of the sites as an “eternal agreement” and saying Pakistan would respond to any attack on the sacred cities regardless of whether there was a formal agreement. “If there wasn’t an agreement, if Saudi Arabia had been attacked, especially if the sacred cities of Makkah and Madinah were attacked, then we are bound by an eternal agreement; that is, we will protect the House of God and Madinah,” he said. “Their protection is our religious obligation. So yes, there are worldly agreements, and they have their sanctity, which we also honour, but if an attack takes place on the House of God or the place where the Prophet (PBUH) was born, then no Muslim sitting anywhere would ultimately need to wait for any agreement. This is our religious duty — to protect it,” he added. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Makkah on August 7. Signed by Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia based on shared responsibility and regional ownership amid growing regional and global instability, the agreement aims to promote security, peace, stability and prosperity while strengthening collective deterrence. The agreement stipulates that an attack against any one of the signatory states will be considered an attack against all parties. It also seeks to foster a new culture of regional cooperation and remains open to the participation of actors that respect international law and share a vision of peaceful cooperation.