ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s defence, saying it will provide whatever support is needed to protect the Kingdom’s sovereignty and Islam’s holiest sites, while stressing that its military alliance with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye is purely defensive and could be expanded to include other countries.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry made the remarks in an interview with Independent Arabia aired on Sunday, saying the security of Saudi Arabia and the Haramain Sharifain was “non-negotiable”.
“The Saudis’ sovereignty and territorial integrity, security, and foremost, the security of the Haramain Sharifain is paramount. It’s non-negotiable,” Chaudhry said.
“ It’s absolute, as far as Pakistan is concerned. So once we say that, so whatever support is needed to do that is being provided and will be provided,” he said, adding that no alliance makes public the specifics and the quantification of the support provided.
“If you want to go into the domains, specifics, quantification, no alliance does that, no military does that.,” he said.
Security of Holy Sites
Chaudhry said attacks threatening Saudi Arabia or its holy sites had provoked strong anger among Pakistanis, including the country’s political and military leadership.
“Our reaction in Pakistan, on the streets, from a young boy and girl up to our political and military leadership, is one of anger.”
He remarked, “Our reaction is that of why anyone in his right mind would attack or threaten Saudi Arabia and the holy places, or even give an impression of threatening the holy places. So that’s our reaction,”.
He declared there could be no “ifs and buts” on the security of the holy sites.
“And if we are unable to come to a negotiated outcome, and we turn into a military conflict, then this collective deterrence, this instrument of the collective deterrence of Makkah Alliance, will definitely come into play as it is coming into play.” Chaudhry said.
Collective Deterrence
Replying to a question about Pakistan-Saudi Arabia military cooperation, he said: “The coordination between Pakistan and the Saudis in all domains, and if you are talking specifically of the military domain, has been there since decades. We coordinated with each other. The coordination dates back before Makkah Alliance, and the coordination is right now. It is in multiple domains. It will continue.”
Addressing whether Pakistan’s support would remain defensive if Houthi attacks continued, Chaudhry said Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye were clear that their alliance had no offensive purpose.
“As far as the defensive part, the leadership of all three countries in the Makkah Alliance are absolutely clear on that. And the direction is clear that this alliance has no offensive intent. It is purely defensive. And it will remain,” he said.
He said the Makkah Alliance remains open to other countries that support collective deterrence, peace, stability and security, while stressing that any expansion would be decided by the leaders of its three member states.
“The alliance remains open to all those countries who believe in collective deterrence, peace, stability and security in the region. But it is for the leadership of the three countries to decide on this process of expansion and the timing of that expansion.”
