ISLAMABAD: Pakistani troops present in Saudi Arabia for decades are already operating across multiple capabilities and domains, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Wednesday, as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye move to implement their collective defence commitments.
Pakistani troops present in Saudi Arabia for decades
Asked by CNN whether Pakistani personnel were already on the ground in Saudi Arabia under the Makkah alliance, Lt Gen Chaudhry said Pakistan had maintained a military presence in the kingdom for decades.
“Pakistani troops have been there for decades,” he said, adding that Pakistani forces were already present in Saudi Arabia “in multiple capabilities and domains”.
The ISPR chief said the Makkah alliance had not emerged “in a vacuum”, pointing to longstanding diplomatic, political, military and people-to-people ties between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
His comments came after the three countries agreed to immediately implement their collective defence commitments and ensure the “rapid deployment” of agreed military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia.
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The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Riyadh on Monday, according to a statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
The deployment will take place under approved arrangements and in accordance with the respective national laws of the three countries, the statement said.
The measures are intended to strengthen 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 one member is to be treated as an attack against all three.
