Pakistan plans up to 25,000 troops for Saudi Arabia amid Houthi threat

Pakistan is considering a major expansion of its military presence in Saudi Arabia, with the deployment of up to 25,000 troops under consideration amid an escalating Houthi threat, CNN-News18 reported exclusively on 3 October. Citing “a top security source”, the report by Manoj Gupta says more than 15,000 Pakistani troops are already in the kingdom, and that Islamabad is also strengthening Saudi defences with air defence systems, rockets and drones.

That sits alongside a separate Reuters report citing a Pakistani official, which puts 30,000-40,000 Pakistani troops as already deployed inside Saudi Arabia - arriving in waves since last year - for border defence and missile-and-drone interception. Reuters also reports four cargo planes carrying air defence systems, light artillery, drones and anti-drone systems were sent to Aden last month, with Pakistani military advisers working alongside Saudi counterparts. Islamabad has not decided to send troops into Yemen in a combat capacity.

The deployments fall under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on 7 August, which treats an attack on one as an attack on all, though it is not yet fully activated. Alliance military chiefs met in Riyadh on 25 September and condemned the Houthi attacks; an emergency meeting is expected in Riyadh next week.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also said Iran had suggested political engagement with the Houthis: “no written, solid offer… brainstorming between two foreign ministers”.

Read next: all our Yemen war coverage

Sources:

• https://www.news18.com/world/pakistan-plans-to-deploy-up-to-25000-troops-in-saudi-arabia-amid-rising-houthi-threat-exclusive-ws-lr-10365402.html
• https://www.firstpost.com/world/pakistan-preparing-to-deploy-up-to-25000-troops-to-saudi-arabia-amid-rising-houthi-threat-report-14050093.html
• https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-910424