ISLAMABAD – As reports of Pakistani troops in Saudi Arabia remain in global headliens DG ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry offered a key clarification, saying military presence in Kingdom is not new.
In a CNN interview, Pak army spokesperson said Pakistani Armed Forces personnel have been there for decades, operating across multiple capabilities and domains—placing the latest developments within a much longer defence relationship between Islamabad and Riyadh.
DG ISPR has spoken to CNN today. https://t.co/vLlzPNJqie
— Tanzil Gillani (@TanzilGillani) October 7, 2026
Lt Gen Chaudhry said the presence of Pakistani personnel in Saudi Arabia was not a new development created by recently established Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. Rather, he linked the current arrangement to longstanding diplomatic, political and military ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as well as their broader people-to-people relationship.
His remarks come days after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye agreed in Riyadh to move toward the practical implementation of their collective-defence commitments under the Makkah framework.
ISPR chief had made similar remarks in September, when he told Arab News that Pakistan stood with Saudi Arabia both diplomatically and physically. He said Pakistani personnel were already present in the Kingdom and linked Pakistan’s commitment to the defence of Saudi Arabia and the protection of the Haramain Sharifain in Makkah and Madinah.
His statements do not provide current figure for total number of Pakistani personnel in Saudi Arabia, nor do they disclose the complete composition of the force. Instead, Pakistan has described the relationship in terms of a longstanding defence partnership involving training, military cooperation, advisory functions and broader security coordination.
The confirmation comes as the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement enters a more operational phase. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the agreement in Makkah on August 7, 2026. The pact establishes a collective-defence principle under which an attack against one member is treated as an attack against all three.
The three countries held emergency meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee of the Makkah Alliance for Defence in Riyadh on October 5.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the committee decided to move immediately toward implementing the collective-defence commitments and to take measures to provide the military forces and capabilities agreed by the three countries.
The meeting came amid heightened security concerns in and around Saudi Arabia. The three governments condemned reported attempts to target Makkah and Madinah as well as attacks against Saudi cities and civilian and economic infrastructure.
Pakistan was represented at the Riyadh meeting by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
Riyadh meeting also marked an institutional development for the new alliance. The committee appointed retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood of Pakistan as the Makkah Alliance’s first Secretary-General for an initial three-year term. The appointment was included in the official statements issued following the meeting.
The appointment is part of efforts to establish the alliance’s permanent institutional structure and translate the political agreement into mechanisms for military coordination.
Reported scale of Pakistan’s deployment
While Pakistan civil-military officials have not publicly disclosed full size of its current military presence in Saudi Arabia, Reuters reported that Islamabad increased its military support to the Kingdom.
Pakistan rejects Reuters speculative report on Makkah Defence agreement
As there are no official confirmation so far, Reuters citing three security officials and two government sources, reported that Pakistan deployed around 8,000 troops, a squadron of approximately 16 aircraft—mostly JF-17 fighters—two drone squadrons and a Chinese HQ-9 air-defence system. The aircraft were reportedly sent to Saudi Arabia in early April.
Reuters reported that the assets were being operated by Pakistani personnel and financed by Saudi Arabia. Sources described the deployment as capable of supporting Saudi military operations if required, although some officials said the personnel were primarily performing advisory and training functions at the time. The report also said the deployment came in addition to Pakistani troops already serving in Saudi Arabia under earlier arrangements.
A government source cited by Reuters said the confidential bilateral defence pact could potentially allow for the deployment of as many as 80,000 Pakistani troops to help secure Saudi borders if required. Reuters also reported that the agreement may involve Pakistani naval deployments, although it could not establish whether Pakistani warships had actually reached Saudi Arabia.
The latest developments come as security tensions involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have intensified. An emergency Makkah alliance meeting had been announced amid discussions about Houthi attacks and a possible political approach toward the group. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Iran had suggested political engagement with the Houthis and that the proposal would be discussed by the alliance members.
Lt Gen (r) Nauman Mahmood takes Charge as Makkah Alliance enters New Defence Era
