South Asia Politics -

PTI Legislator Taken Into Custody During Raid on Bannu Religious Seminary

aina DilawerOctober 20, 20260

The arrest comes amid reports of an ongoing crackdown on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers in the district. A video circulating…

Government Plans to Expand AI and Skills Training for Young People

aina DilawerOctober 20, 20260

Addressing a meeting with the president and members of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI), he said the…

Sanaullah Says PM Shehbaz Open to Consensus with Opposition on Counterterrorism Strategy

aina DilawerOctober 20, 20260

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is prepared to engage opposition parties in talks to develop a national consensus on counterterrorism, provided…

Dar Urges SCO Members to Boost Use of National Currencies to Counter Global Economic Shocks

aina DilawerOctober 20, 20260

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has urged Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to accelerate the use…

Punjab Defamation Tribunal Orders Opposition Leader to Pay Rs3 Million in Azma Bokhari Case

aina DilawerOctober 20, 20260

A Punjab defamation tribunal has ordered opposition leader in the provincial assembly Shaukat Basra? No—Qureshi to pay Rs3 million in…

Deputy PM Ishaq Dar Arrives in Tajikistan for High-Level SCO Meeting

aina DilawerOctober 20, 20260

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has arrived in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, to participate in a high-level meeting of…

# Pakistan Will Provide All Necessary Support for Saudi Arabia’s Defence, Says DG ISPR Pakistan is providing and will continue to extend whatever assistance Saudi Arabia requires to protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity and security, particularly that of Islam’s two holiest sites, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said. In an interview with *Independent Arabia* broadcast on Sunday, the military spokesperson stressed that Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security was unconditional and that there could be no compromise over the protection of the kingdom and the Two Holy Mosques. His remarks come amid deadly attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement on Saudi Arabia in recent weeks. Islamabad and Riyadh have entered into a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, while Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye are also parties to the Makkah Joint Defence Alliance, which aims to strengthen collective deterrence. Responding to a question about Pakistan’s military assistance to Saudi Arabia in the wake of the attacks, Lt Gen Chaudhry said the kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security — especially that of the Two Holy Mosques — were of paramount importance to Pakistan. “Whatever support is needed to do that is being provided and will be provided,” he said, adding that defence alliances generally do not publicly disclose the precise nature or scale of assistance extended to their members. ## Pakistan Condemns Threats to Saudi Arabia The DG ISPR said the Houthi attacks had triggered anger across Pakistan, from ordinary citizens to the country’s political and military leadership. He questioned why anyone would target or threaten Saudi Arabia or create the impression that the holy sites were under threat. According to him, the security of the sacred places was an issue on which Pakistan would not accept any conditions or reservations. Asked whether Pakistan’s assistance would remain defensive if the attacks continued, Lt Gen Chaudhry said all three members of the Makkah alliance were clear that the arrangement had no offensive objectives and was designed exclusively for defence. Referring to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which recognises the right to individual and collective self-defence, he said the alliance sent a clear message to forces contributing to instability in the region. He warned that any direct or indirect attack on one of the three member states could trigger a collective response. If deterrence failed, he added, the participating countries would take the necessary steps to restore it using the capabilities available to them. ## Islamabad Engaging All Parties to Prevent Escalation Commenting on whether Pakistan had warned Iran over the Houthi attacks, particularly after Saudi officials linked Tehran to the situation, the military spokesperson said Islamabad had been engaging with all relevant parties, including Iran. He said Pakistan’s efforts were focused on exercising restraint, reducing tensions and preventing further escalation. Lt Gen Chaudhry described the regional conflict as a cycle in which tensions periodically ease before disruptive actors reignite hostilities. He argued that widening the confrontation to include the Houthis or other locations would not resolve the underlying conflict but would instead benefit those seeking instability in the region. He reiterated that Pakistan was sending a strong message that the collective deterrence mechanism was already in effect. Islamabad, he said, would take all necessary measures to safeguard Saudi Arabia’s security and territorial integrity, including the protection of the Haramain Sharifain. The DG ISPR also clarified that the Makkah alliance was not directed against any particular country, including Iran or Israel, and had no offensive purpose. Pakistan Ready to Extend All Necessary Defence Assistance to Saudi Arabia, Says DG ISPR

Pakistan Ready to Extend All Necessary Defence Assistance to Saudi Arabia, Says DG ISPR

aina DilawerOctober 20, 20260

Pakistan is providing and will continue to extend whatever assistance Saudi Arabia requires to protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity and…

TV Host Iqrarul Hassan Remanded to Karachi Jail in PECA Case

aina DilawerOctober 20, 20260

Television anchor Iqrarul Hassan has been remanded to judicial custody until October 26 in a case registered under the Prevention…

Naqvi Says Pakistan Persisted in Efforts to Broker Peace Between US and Iran at Qatar Forum

aina DilawerOctober 19, 20260

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has highlighted Islamabad’s continued diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between the United States and Iran,…

Field Marshal Asim Munir, Saudi Envoy Welcome Progress Under Makkah Defence Agreement: ISPR

aina DilawerOctober 19, 20260

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Saudi Arabia’s newly appointed ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin…