Pakistan has rejected a New York Times report claiming that its fighter jets were involved in strikes against Yemen’s Houthi movement, describing the allegations as “fake and fabricated”.
The denial comes amid reports of Pakistan’s growing military involvement in Saudi Arabia’s security arrangements as fighting intensifies in Yemen and tensions threaten regional energy supplies
The New York Times, citing Pakistani officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, reported on Wednesday that Pakistan Air Force fighter jets were being used in operations against the Houthis.
The report also quoted Col. David O. Smith, a former US Army attaché in Pakistan and former senior analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency, as saying that around 8,000 Pakistani troops had been deployed to Saudi Arabia.
According to the D. Smith, Pakistan’s role could focus on protecting Saudi oil infrastructure and countering Houthi drone and missile threats rather than taking part in a ground offensive inside Yemen.
A second Pakistani official cited by the newspaper reportedly said air support could be central to Islamabad’s contribution.
Pakistan’s military has confirmed that its forces are present in Saudi Arabia but has not disclosed their numbers or capabilities.
The developments follow an emergency meeting in Riyadh on Monday involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, the three signatories of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
The agreement, signed in August, commits the countries to supporting one another in the event of an attack.
Following Monday’s meeting, the three governments said they would begin implementing their collective-defence commitments and arrange the rapid deployment of agreed military forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, said Islamabad’s support for Riyadh was firm but insisted that any Pakistani involvement would be defensive in nature.
He did not provide further details about the deployment, citing the classified nature of the information.
A direct military role against the Houthis could complicate Pakistan’s regional diplomacy.
Islamabad shares a border with Iran and has played a role in efforts to facilitate dialogue between Tehran and Washington. Iran is also a key regional supporter of the Houthi movement.
Pakistan has maintained that its assistance to Saudi Arabia is intended to protect the kingdom rather than draw Pakistani forces into a wider regional war.
Chaudhry has also reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to efforts aimed at ending the broader US-Iran conflict.
The latest developments come as fighting in Yemen intensifies, with Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces launching an offensive against Houthi positions near strategically important areas of the Red Sea.
The conflict has raised concerns about maritime security and the movement of oil and other goods through regional shipping routes.
The reported Pakistani deployment has added another dimension to the conflict, although Islamabad’s denial means the claim that Pakistani fighter jets have conducted strikes against Houthi targets remains disputed.
