DG ISPR says Makkah pact aims at regional stability, vows to defend Saudi Arabia

The DG ISPR said Pakistani forces had been present in Saudi Arabia for decades, serving in various capacities and across different fields. He stressed that the agreement was not an alliance formed suddenly but built on an established history of military cooperation between the two countries.

Explaining the agreement's potential implementation, the military spokesperson said all measures taken under the pact and their resulting implications would be strictly defensive in nature. He added that operational commanders would determine how the agreement would be implemented, including which troops would be deployed and how they would be utilised.

He described the agreement as a potential source of regional stability, noting that new security challenges had emerged in the region in recent years. He said the pact would provide a collective defence capability to counter potential threats.

Under the agreement, an attack on one member would be considered an attack on all, he said, adding that this principle could deter potential aggressors from pursuing hostile objectives. He clarified that the arrangement was not intended to designate any country as either an enemy or a friend.

Reiterating Pakistan's commitment to Saudi security, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said defending the kingdom was one of the agreement's primary objectives and that Pakistan would fulfil this commitment.

Addressing efforts to end the conflict between the United States and Iran, Chaudhry said Pakistan had played a role in facilitating dialogue in the past and would continue its efforts to reduce differences and encourage a peaceful settlement through negotiations.

He said Pakistan wanted to prevent the conflict from spreading further and remained committed to supporting diplomatic initiatives aimed at achieving peace. He highlighted that Pakistan had acted as an honest and impartial mediator in efforts to secure a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.