Pakistan denies fighter jets involved in Yemen strikes, reaffirms support for Saudi Arabia
Foreign Office Spokesperson Ambassador Sajjad Haider Khan said on Friday in a weekly press briefing that the Makkah Alliance for Defence was a defensive arrangement aimed at protecting member states and strengthening their collective deterrence capabilities.
Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security, while rejecting reports that Pakistani fighter jets had participated in cross-border operations against Houthi forces in Yemen.
Referring to an emergency meeting of the alliance’s Strategic Political and Defence Committee held in Riyadh on October 5, the FO spokesperson said Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye had agreed to move towards implementing their collective defence commitments.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir attended the meeting, he said.
The committee reviewed the security situation and threats facing Saudi Arabia and condemned attempts to target Makkah and Madinah, as well as attacks on cities, civilians and economic infrastructure, Haider Khan said.
The three countries approved measures to enhance military readiness, integration and their collective capacity to address security threats, he added.
He said the alliance was intended to defend member countries against aggression and that Pakistani forces would not cross into Yemen to launch attacks against Houthi forces.
Pakistani troops could, however, be deployed to defend Saudi territory and safeguard its sovereignty.
Pakistan had a substantial number of forces and resources in Saudi Arabia, he said, adding that the alliance would assess threats and determine operational requirements in line with its mandate.
Haider Khan described reports of Pakistani fighter jets taking part in airstrikes against the Houthis as false.
Pakistan remained concerned about escalating regional tensions, particularly given that about 2.5 million Pakistanis lived in Saudi Arabia, he said, adding that Islamabad remained committed to protecting their welfare and supporting Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty.
Pakistan had consistently advocated de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy, he said.
On regional diplomacy, Haider Khan said Pakistan continued to support political dialogue and efforts to reduce tensions between the United States and Iran.
Direct communication between the two countries, including discussions on seven points, reflected progress made through Pakistan’s mediation efforts, he said.
The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding remained in place, and Pakistan was willing to continue facilitating a negotiated solution if required, he added.
Diplomacy remained essential to regional peace and stability, he said, noting that its success depended on the willingness of the parties concerned to pursue a peaceful settlement.
Separately, the spokesperson said Pakistan had raised concerns about terrorism emanating from Afghan territory during the eighth meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan, held in Moscow on October 5.
Pakistan participated constructively in the meeting, but a joint statement was not issued because the Afghan Taliban delegation did not agree to retain previously agreed language on terrorism, he said.
Terrorism originating from Afghanistan posed a serious security threat to neighbouring countries, particularly Pakistan, he said, adding that the absence of a joint statement should not overshadow the importance of regional dialogue.
On Jammu and Kashmir, FO reiterated Pakistan’s position that the dispute remained unresolved and required a settlement in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
He welcomed remarks by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during his recent visit to Pakistan regarding the role of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), saying its presence and role needed to be strengthened alongside efforts to achieve a just resolution of the dispute.
On bilateral relations, the FO spokesperson said Pakistan and Britain had reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, education and security during recent high-level engagements.
He also highlighted Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani’s official visit to Pakistan from October 7 to 8, during which both sides reviewed bilateral cooperation and co-chaired the third session of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission.
FO noted the ongoing visit of Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s secretary for relations with states and international organisations, describing it as the first visit to Pakistan by an officeholder in that capacity. The visit coincided with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and the Holy See.
Discussions during the visit covered interfaith harmony, peace and cooperation, reflecting a shared interest in strengthening bilateral relations, he said.
On climate change, Haider Khan said Pakistan was taking measures to address challenges including glacier melting, glacial lake outburst floods and flooding in northern areas.
The government was pursuing climate adaptation, tree plantation and preparedness measures, he said, adding that Pakistan continued to face significant climate impacts despite being a relatively small contributor to global carbon emissions.
Haider Khan also said Pakistan had lodged a strong protest with India following the killing of two Pakistani civilians by Indian Border Security Force personnel in the Bedian sector along the international border on October 2.
Pakistan had called for an immediate, transparent and credible investigation and appropriate action against those responsible, he said.
Four injured Pakistani crew members of MT Honour 25, along with the remains of three Pakistani nationals, were repatriated from Addis Ababa to Karachi on October 4, while the remaining three crew members returned on October 7, FO spokesperson said. Pakistani missions facilitated their safe return.
Responding to questions about Pakistan’s military presence in Saudi Arabia, Haider Khan said Pakistani armed forces had been present in the Kingdom in various capacities since 1982, including under logistical arrangements and training missions.
Further deployments would be determined according to operational requirements and decisions by the alliance’s headquarters, he added.