Pakistan army has confirmed that its troops are already present in Saudi Arabia across multiple roles and operational domains, with Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry telling CNN that the deployment reflects decades of defence cooperation rather than a new arrangement under the Makkah Defence Alliance.
In an interview with CNN correspondent Ivan Watson, aired on Wednesday, October 7, the military spokesperson confirmed the presence of Pakistani forces in the Kingdom amid growing attention to the implementation of the trilateral defence framework involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
“I can confirm that the forces of Pakistan are already there,” Lieutenant General Chaudhry said when asked about Pakistani personnel in Saudi Arabia.
He emphasized that the military relationship predated the newly established alliance, explaining that Pakistani troops had been stationed in the Kingdom for decades.
“The Makkah alliance is not something that has come out in a vacuum,” he said, pointing to longstanding diplomatic, political, military and people-to-people ties between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
The remarks provide a clearer picture of the existing military relationship as the three countries move to implement their collective-defence commitments.
Field Marshal Asim Munir’s role in the evolving defence framework
The confirmation comes as Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, remains central to Pakistan’s military leadership during a period of closer regional defence coordination.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye agreed earlier this week to move toward the immediate implementation of their collective-defence commitments and the rapid deployment of agreed military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia.
The decision followed a meeting of the Makkah Alliance’s Strategic Political and Defence Committee in Riyadh on October 5. The three countries said implementation would proceed under approved arrangements and in accordance with their respective national laws.
The agreement, signed in August, establishes a collective-defence framework under which an armed attack against one member is treated as an attack against all three.
However, Lieutenant General Chaudhry did not disclose the number of Pakistani personnel currently stationed in Saudi Arabia, identify specific units or provide details of the forces’ operational assignments during the CNN interview.
His confirmation therefore establishes the continuing presence of Pakistani forces but does not, by itself, confirm any newly dispatched contingent or a specific change in deployment following the latest trilateral meeting.
Longstanding military ties and regional security
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained extensive defence cooperation for decades, including military training, advisory support and other forms of professional collaboration. The latest developments build on that established relationship while providing a broader trilateral framework for coordination with Türkiye.
The alliance has taken on added importance amid heightened regional security concerns and attacks targeting Saudi territory and infrastructure. The three countries have reaffirmed their opposition to threats against Saudi Arabia’s security and territorial integrity, including attempts to target the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
Pakistan has repeatedly declared its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security. The military leadership has also emphasized the importance of protecting the Kingdom and the sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain.
The CNN interview comes after Field Marshal Asim Munir and other Pakistani officials reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to the defence framework, while maintaining that sensitive operational details would remain confidential.
The latest confirmation underscores the distinction between Pakistan’s longstanding military presence in Saudi Arabia and the evolving arrangements intended to strengthen collective defence among the three partners.
