Stories
Pakistan Enters West Asian Conflict: Troops Deployed Under Mecca Pact
- •The New York Times reported that Pakistan Air Force fighter jets are allegedly being used against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
- •An estimated 8,000 Pakistani troops have been deployed in Saudi Arabia under the newly activated Mecca Defence Alliance.
- •Pakistan's Ministry of Information has strongly rejected the report, calling it false and fabricated.
- •A Pakistani military spokesperson confirmed the presence of troops in Saudi Arabia to CNN, but withheld specific numbers and capabilities due to confidentiality.
- •This strategic move under the Mecca Agreement could complicate Islamabad's diplomatic balance between Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Iran.
Key Questions Answered
In August, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey entered into a NATO-like joint defense agreement named the Mecca Defence Alliance, stating that an armed attack on any of the three countries is considered an attack on all. The practical implementation of this pact began following an emergency meeting of their strategic political and defense committee in Riyadh.
An estimated 8,000 Pakistani troops are currently deployed in Saudi Arabia. This force includes personnel from the Pakistan Air Force and Army Air Defense, intended to help protect critical oil infrastructure and respond to regional threats.
Pakistan's Ministry of Information dismissed the report by The New York Times as false and fabricated. The ministry explicitly denied claims that Pakistan Air Force aircraft were used in attacks against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
