Pakistan Army Confirms Its Forces Are Deployed in Saudi Arabia
A spokesman for Pakistan’s army has officially confirmed the deployment of the country’s military forces in Saudi Arabia, saying the presence is taking place under a “Makkah joint defence agreement.”
General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry told CNN in remarks published on Wednesday that Pakistani forces are now carrying out missions in Saudi territory in “multiple capacities and operational fields.”
Emphasising the continued presence of Pakistan’s troops in Saudi Arabia, he added that the Pakistan armed forces are currently present in the country.
In response to a question about the nature of the deployment of Pakistani forces under the Makkah defence pact, the Pakistani army official said these forces have been stationed in Saudi Arabia in various capacities for “decades” and have maintained ongoing cooperation with the kingdom.
The Pakistan army spokesman also referred to regional defence cooperation, saying the trilateral defence alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey should not be seen as a new development. He claimed the cooperation is based on diplomatic, political and military ties, as well as people-to-people links among the three countries.
