The Ministry of Information has rejected a New York Times report claiming that Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aircraft were being used in operations against Yemen’s Houthis, describing the report as “fake and fabricated.”
The NYT report, published on October 7, cited an unnamed source as saying PAF fighter jets were being employed against the Houthis amid escalating tensions between the group and Saudi Arabia.
In a post on X, the Information Ministry urged international media organisations to avoid speculative reporting about the possible deployment of Pakistani military forces under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
“Details of any deployment, if necessary, will be given by the authorities concerned,” the ministry said.
Earlier, the ministry had also described a Reuters report claiming that 30,000 to 40,000 Pakistani troops were being deployed to Saudi Arabia as speculative.
The clarification comes after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye agreed to rapidly deploy military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia during an emergency meeting of the Makkah Defence Alliance in Riyadh.
The defence pact, signed on August 7, is aimed at strengthening collective deterrence, with an attack on one member to be treated as an attack on all.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan and Türkiye had a “presence in theatre”, but only Saudi forces were involved in combat operations. Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry also said Pakistani troops had been stationed in Saudi Arabia for decades across multiple domains.
Meanwhile, tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have intensified. The Houthis have claimed attacks on Saudi targets, including Riyadh’s main international airport, while Saudi authorities reported three deaths and 36 injuries in attacks on two airports.
A Saudi-led coalition said it had destroyed the ballistic missile launch platform used in an attack on Riyadh.
Pakistan has expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed its commitment to the kingdom’s security. Pakistani officials have said Islamabad would fulfil its obligations under the Makkah Defence Alliance if the conflict escalates.
However, Pakistan has maintained that the alliance is defensive and focused on collective deterrence.
