ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: Amid relentless Houthi attacks, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed Pakistan's "resolute" commitment to Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and security under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA). In a post on X, the prime minister condemned the Houthi salvos on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport, causing civilian casualties.
Shehbaz commended the "vigilance and professionalism of the Saudi armed forces" and the coalition in intercepting multiple ballistic missiles and "their tireless efforts to protect innocent lives and safeguard" the kingdom. He reiterated that Pakistan stood in solidarity with the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia.
"In line with the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, and recent decisions taken by its Strategic Political and Defence Committee, our commitment to the Kingdom's sovereignty, territorial integrity and security is resolute," the prime minister said. Pakistan fully supports Saudi Arabia's legitimate right to defend its people and protect its cities and vital infrastructure, he added.
Shehbaz also called on the Houthi militia to "immediately cease these attacks", saying Islamabad will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia in the face of threats. In a related development, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Friday said Pakistan remained committed to a negotiated and peaceful outcome of the Middle East conflict and did not want it to widen further.
"We want that this conflict should not expand horizontally or vertically," said the ISPR Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry in an interview with CNN. He said Pakistan was doing and would continue to do whatever was possible and necessary to narrow differences and gaps between the parties.
Asked whether Pakistan could remain a neutral broker given Iran's attacks on Saudi Arabia and the involvement of the Iran-aligned Houthis, he said Pakistan had demonstrated that it was an "honest broker". "I think what Pakistan has been doing is exhibiting that we have been a very honest broker," he said, adding that neutrality stemmed from honesty and that Pakistan had been clear about its position with all its partners and friends.
He further said Pakistan had openly condemned attacks on Iran by Israel and the United States. He added that Pakistan had also openly condemned Iran's attacks on Arab and Gulf countries.
"We do not mince our words. Because we have a stake in regional peace and stability," he said.
"We tell all that nobody benefits from expanding this war," the ISPR chief added. Replying to a question on the Makkah pact, he said, "Pakistan is delving into the operationalisation of forces," adding that the Makkah Accord will be purely defensive and its implementation will be determined by operational commanders amid numerous security challenges and emerging threats in the region.
Asked whether Pakistani troops or personnel were already on the ground in Saudi Arabia as part of the Makkah alliance, Chaudhry said, "Pakistani troops have been there for decades in Saudi Arabia." He said the Makkah alliance had not emerged "in a vacuum", pointing to the longstanding diplomatic, political, military and people-to-people ties between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.