FO says Pakistan has 'substantial number of forces, resources' in Riyadh

FO notes Pakistan has 'substantial number of forces, resources' in Riyadh.

Key points

• News Desk Published October 9, 2026 Updated October 9, 2026 08: 42pm.
• Earlier this week, the ministry additionally termed a Reuters report claiming the deployment of 30, 000 to 40, 000 Pakistani troops in Saudi Arabia as "speculative".
• The Makkah Defence Alliance is a tripartite arrangement that includes Turkiye as well.
• While Pakistan has expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia, it has additionally maintained that the Makkah alliance is intended for collective deterrence and defensive in nature.
• He continued, Any motivated and unilateral cartographic exercise is legally void and in clear violation of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

News Desk Published October 9, 2026 Updated October 9, 2026 08: 42pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel.

Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan remarked on Friday that Pakistan already had "substantial number" of forces and resources in Riyadh and it was now up to the Makkah Defence Alliance to assess the threat in Saudi Arabia and produce decisions accordingly.

Notably, the FO spokesperson remarks came in response to a query regarding the "active support" being offered by Pakistan to Saudi Arabia under the Makkah Defence Alliance against the backdrop of an escalating conflict between the kingdom and Yemen-based Houthis.

For context, the Makkah Defence Alliance is a tripartite arrangement that includes Turkiye as well. It was signed on Aug 7 and and intends to strengthen collective deterrence and empower its signatory states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them.

Speaking during a weekly briefing, the FO spokesperson recalled that a joint statement by the three members of the alliance was "very clear in stating that the three countries are united in ensuring deterrence and safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia".

In practice, the three countries had decided to contribute and mobilise resources rapidly, he remarked, adding that Pakistan already had a "substantial number of forces, as well as resources, in Riyadh".

"It is now up to the organisation to assess the threat perception and operate in accordance with its own mandate, " he remarked.

Notably, the spokesperson continued that providing further details on operational matters of the alliance, "including how the situation will be handled, would not be appropriate on my part. It would additionally be speculative on my part to suggest that certain countries could be involved".

On the Houthis and escalation of the conflict, he remarked, "This is a militia that has been involved in such proxy activities and has contributed to regional instability. It has been actively fighting Yemeni forces for quite some time, and access to resources is feasible these days. Nevertheless, at this stage, I would not be able to provide you with specific names".

Yemen's civil war has rapidly emerged as the fiercest front in a wider regional conflagration triggered by the US and Israeli attack on Iran that began on February 28.

Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority remarked on Friday that three Saudi nationals were killed and a number of individuals were injured in ‌two attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday.

Notably, the strikes, which additionally injured a number of individuals, damaged a Saudia Airlines plane and sent smoke billowing over the airport, led numerous airlines to cancel flights to the Saudi capital days before it is due to host a major session of global oil chiefs.

Saudi airstrikes hit Houthi targets in the Yemeni capital Sanaa overnight, Houthi authorities and affiliated media stated, part of an intensifying air war against the Iran-allied group aimed at reversing its recent territorial gains, threats to international shipping, and attacks on the kingdom.

In practice, the Yemeni group notes it is targeting the kingdom over its backing for administration forces in Yemen's reignited civil war. Saudi Arabia notes it is backing an offensive by Yemen's UN-recognised ⁠administration to take back territory from the Houthis.

As part of the Makkah defence pact, has been a matter of discussion against this backdrop, pakistan role.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday condemned recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, reiterating Pakistan's commitment to the Gulf state's "sovereignty, territorial integrity and security" under the Makkah Defence Alliance.

For context, a day ago, the Ministry of Information dismissed on Thursday a news report claiming that Pakistan Air Force aircraft were being applied against the Yemen's Houthis as "fake and fabricated". Earlier this week, the ministry additionally termed a Reuters report claiming the deployment of 30, 000 to 40, 000 Pakistani troops in Saudi Arabia as "speculative".

Nevertheless, on Monday, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye agreed to the deployment of military forces and capabilities rapidly in the kingdom during an emergency session of the Makkah Defence Alliance in Riyadh. Monday's session under the alliance was held to address the security developments and threats facing Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Foreign Office after the session stated the member states had "decided to move immediately to the practical implementation of the collective defence commitments and to take the necessary measures to provide the agreed military forces and capabilities and ensure their rapid deployment in the kingdom, in accordance with the approved arrangements and the national legislation of the parties, thereby enhancing readiness, military integration, and the collective capacity to confront and counter threats".

Separately, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. This person was part of Pakistan's delegation in the session, joined Geo News programme 'Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath' via telephone the same day and stated Pakistan and Turkiye, the defence minister replied that both nations had a "presence in theatre", but only Saudi troops were involved in combat operations.

He additionally stated on Thursday that no stipulation of the Makkah Defence Alliance barred the member states from getting "directly involved" in case of a threat to one of the members.

In practice, the FO spokesperson additionally addressed the reason for the lack of a joint statement issued after the Moscow Format gathering, saying that it was due to the Afghan Taliban delegation's departure from its previous position regarding the language on terrorism.

He observed that Pakistan had participated constructively in the gathering and "clearly conveyed its concerns" regarding terrorism emanating from Afghan territory, underscoring that it posed a serious threat to neighbouring countries.

"As you are aware, these concerns were duly reflected in the joint statement issued at last year's Moscow Format meeting, " Khan remarked. "However, this year, the Afghan Taliban delegation did not agree to retain the previously agreed language and departed from its earlier position."

He continued, "We believe that any joint statement that does not adequately reflect this legitimate security concern would not present a fair picture of the ground realities. For Pakistan, this is a substantive security matter, not merely a matter of wording."

Nevertheless, the spokesperson highlighted that "the absence of a joint statement should not overshadow the value of regional dialogue". As the next gathering was a year away, he continued that Pakistan had sufficient time to hold consultations regarding future participation in the Moscow Format.

Although he ruled out making any definitive commitments as "premature", "As I have already mentioned, that is part of our engagement on the issue, and possibly we might continue to participate in the future as well, " he remarked. New map issued by India.

Additionally, the FO rejected the issuance of a new political map by India in which parts of India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir were depicted as a part of Indian territorial jurisdiction, terming it an "act of cartographic aggression" and noting that it did not create India's occupation legitimate.

"Pakistan categorically rejects India's latest act of cartographic aggression, " Khan remarked while answering a question.

He continued, "Any motivated and unilateral cartographic exercise is legally void and in clear violation of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. Such illegal actions cannot confer legitimacy on India's occupation of sizeable parts of Jammu and Kashmir."

Noting that unilateral action by India could not alter the internationally-recognised disputed status of the region, he further remarked that these measures could not "prejudice the inalienable right of the Kashmiri people to self-determination". It should be exercised via a free and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices.

"Instead of resorting to futile cartographic exercises, India must abide by international law, fulfill its obligations under the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and allow the people of illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir to exercise their right to self-determination, " the spokesperson continued.

Taken together, the developments around FO says Pakistan has ' substantial number of forces, resources' in Riyadh point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.