Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to safeguarding Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security during a meeting with Lieutenant General (retired) Mahmood, the first secretary general of the defence alliance involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.
Mahmood was appointed to the position last month. The agreement, signed on August 7, stipulates that an armed attack against one member state will be treated as an attack against all three countries.
During the meeting, the prime minister described the pact as a “historic milestone for peace, unity, and stability in the region” and extended his best wishes to Mahmood for his new responsibilities.
Shehbaz also reiterated Pakistan’s “unwavering commitment” to Saudi Arabia’s security, as the Gulf kingdom faces rising tensions with Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
According to Radio Pakistan, the prime minister said Pakistan “stands shoulder to shoulder” with Saudi Arabia.
The meeting took place amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia launched strikes against Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, targeting fuel and energy facilities that Riyadh said were being used to support missile and drone attacks.
The strikes followed threats by the Houthi group to launch a “harsh and painful” response against Saudi airports, refineries and oil installations.
Hours later, Saudi authorities issued warnings about potential hostile aerial threats in the kingdom’s eastern province and Riyadh.
Witnesses reported loud explosions near Saudi Aramco’s headquarters in Dhahran, while a Saudi energy ministry official later confirmed an attack.
Saudi Arabia’s civil defence agency said debris from two intercepted Houthi cruise missiles injured four people — two women, a man and a child — in the capital. The incident also damaged 15 homes.
The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Saudi airports, oil facilities and tankers following the breakdown of a truce in July in the long-running conflict involving Yemen’s internationally recognised government and its coalition partners.
Pakistan has repeatedly expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia amid the regional tensions.
At an emergency meeting of the Makkah Defence Alliance in Riyadh on October 5, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye agreed to the rapid deployment of military forces and capabilities.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who was part of Pakistan’s delegation, said Pakistan and Turkiye already had a presence in the region, while Saudi troops were the only forces involved in combat operations.
On September 18, Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan was prepared to go to “any extent” to defend Saudi Arabia, describing Islamabad’s commitment to the kingdom’s security as “unconditional”.
Asif has also reiterated that Pakistan would support Saudi Arabia both practically and diplomatically if the conflict involving Yemen’s Houthi rebels escalated.
The defence minister said Pakistan would fulfil its obligations under the Makkah Defence Alliance in accordance with the agreement’s terms.
Pakistan has maintained that the alliance is defensive in nature and intended to strengthen collective deterrence among its member states.
