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Amid Houthi attacks, DG ISPR says Pakistan will 'go to any extent' to defend Saudi Arabia

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News Desk. (2026, September 18). Amid Houthi attacks, DG ISPR says Pakistan will 'go to any extent' to defend Saudi Arabia. Dawn. https://www.dawn.com/news/2030830/amid-houthi-attacks-dg-ispr-says-pakistan-will-go-to-any-extent-to-defend-saudi-arabia

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Dawn · collected 2026-09-18 · by News Desk

Quick Summary

Pakistan’s Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, stated in an interview with Arab News that Pakistan is committed to defending Saudi Arabia against any aggression, emphasizing a willingness to “go to any extent” for the kingdom's security. The comments come as Yemeni Houthi rebels continue their attacks on Saudi territory. Lt Gen Chaudhry underlined Pakistan’s physical commitment and ongoing diplomatic support while also highlighting efforts towards finding a peaceful resolution through negotiations with regional partners.
Written by AI on 2026-09-18, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

In response to recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to defense pacts with Riyadh, including the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) and the Makkah pact signed in September 2025. The agreements stipulate that an attack against any one of the countries would be considered an attack on all parties involved. Pakistan's military has already deployed forces near Mecca to protect the holy sites, though specifics about operational details remain confidential.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif emphasized Islamabad’s readiness to fulfill its obligations under these agreements but also stressed that dialogue and diplomacy are preferable for addressing the Houthi threat rather than coercive measures. Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry of Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that Pakistan will go "to any extent" to defend Saudi Arabia, reinforcing Islamabad’s unconditional commitment to the kingdom’s security.

The renewed tensions in Yemen and around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait have led Pakistan to tread carefully, advocating for a balanced approach that prioritizes diplomatic solutions over direct military intervention. Pakistan maintains close politico-military ties with Saudi Arabia, reflecting historical alliances between the nations. However, Islamabad is wary of becoming entangled in an open-ended conflict given the complexities and past challenges in regional stability efforts. (September 17, 2026)

Written for “Pakistan Saudi Defense Pledge” on 2026-11-02, grounded in this article and the 7 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Pakistan Saudi Defense Pledge
Politics · 8 article(s) covering the same event. Compare every outlet's account →

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
The Hindu
Hedges 1 of 15 claims Outlet record 60/100
Al Jazeera
Hedges 1 of 28 claims Outlet record 60/100
The Free Press
⚖️ Leans strongly right Hedges 0 of 12 claims Outlet record 96/100
“The articles describe different aspects of the ongoing conflict involving Houthi attacks and Pakistan's support for Saudi Arabia, but they do not report on the exact same incident occurring at the same time.”
Al Jazeera
Hedges 5 of 55 claims Outlet record 60/100
“The articles discuss different statements and agreements made by Pakistan and Turkey regarding support for Saudi Arabia, rather than a single specific incident or declaration.”
South China Morning Post
⚖️ Leans right Hedges 0 of 6 claims Outlet record 63/100
“While both articles discuss Saudi Arabia seeking support against Houthi attacks, they describe different aspects of the situation - one about Saudi Arabia's plea for help due to low missile defenses and the other about Pakistan's commitment to defend Saudi Arabia.”
Dawn
Hedges 2 of 27 claims Outlet record 72/100
“The articles describe related responses to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, but they are not reporting on the same specific incident or occurrence.”
Fox News
Hedges 0 of 30 claims Outlet record 69/100
“While both articles discuss threats and attacks by Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia, they describe different aspects of the ongoing situation rather than the same specific incident.”
Dawn
Hedges 0 of 7 claims Outlet record 72/100
“While both articles discuss Pakistan's commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks, they describe statements made by different officials on distinct days.”
Dawn
⚖️ Leans left Hedges 2 of 33 claims Outlet record 72/100
“The articles discuss related statements about Pakistan's commitment to Saudi Arabia, but appear to cover different instances or comments made by different officials on different occasions.”
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
15
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
0%
0 of 15 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
withheld
no quote in the article backed the model's score
Publisher signals
72/100
Dawn's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
8
Politics
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-09-18 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

Dawn · 2576 article(s) · 3 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 3 correction(s)

Who wrote this

News Desk
354 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 Pakistan is also set to host the next meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) after assuming its chairmanship in September.
🔮 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi had condemned the firing, asserting that Pakistan would “never tolerate” attacks on its people or violations of its sovereignty.
🔮 Lt Gen Chaudhry then recalled that during the May 2025 conflict with India, Pakistan had shot down dozens of highly sophisticated drones sent from across the eastern border.
🔮 Lt Gen Chaudhry then recalled that during the May 2025 conflict with India, Pakistan had shot down dozens of highly sophisticated drones sent from across the eastern border.
🔮 Lt Gen Chaudhry then recalled that during the May 2025 conflict with India, Pakistan had shot down dozens of highly sophisticated drones sent from across the eastern border.
🔮 A PIA spokesperson at the time said the addition of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner would mark the start of the airline’s expansion.
🔮 He added that such an approach would enable “developing and low-income economies to move beyond crisis management towards sustainable growth”.
🔮 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Washington has “heard” Pakistan’s concerns about terrorism emanating from Afghanistan and if “there’s a productive role for us to play, we would play it”.
🔮 In its statement, the information ministry said the Afghan spokesman’s remarks expose the “regime’s deeply misguided approach and unwillingness to confront the root cause of deteriorating relations with Pakistan”.
🔮 In July 2025, a steering committee tasked with developing the Greater Karachi Regional Plan 2047 was informed that the new master plan of the country’s commercial capital would be ready within two years.
Wire or desk byline, not an individual reporter.
Also by News Desk
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 354 articles by News Desk →

Topics

ISPR Inter-Services Public Relations Pakistan Saudi Saudi Arabia

Subjects

Pakistan GPE · 9× Saudi Arabia GPE · 7× Saudi NORP · 5× Haramain Sharifain GPE · 2× Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry PERSON · 1× Arab News ORG · 1× Houthi NORP · 1× ISPR ORG · 1× Inter-Services Public Relations ORG · 1× Yemen GPE · 1×

Narrative

He made the remarks in an interview with Arab News, a clip of which was posted on its social media account on X late Wednesday night, which come amid renewed tensions in the Middle East as Yemen’s Houthi rebels carry out attacks in Saudi Arabia.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-18
🔮 Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said that Pakistan will go to “any extent” to defend Saudi Arabia.

Claims (15 extracted, 0 hedged)

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said that Pakistan will go to “any extent” to defend Saudi Arabia. asserted
Pakistan → say → Arabia
He made the remarks in an interview with Arab News, a clip of which was posted on its social media account on X late Wednesday night, which come amid renewed tensions in the Middle East as Yemen’s Houthi rebels carry out attacks in Saudi Arabia. asserted
rebels → make → Arabia
“Pakistan fully stands with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, both diplomatically and physically. asserted
Pakistan → stand → Arabia
And I would like to underscore the word physically,” Lt Gen Chaudhry said. asserted
Chaudhry → like → word
“We will go to any extent for the security of Haramain Sharifain and the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. asserted
We → go → Arabia
To any extent as asked and required by our Saudi brothers,” he said. asserted
he → ask → brothers
“It should be clear that the people of Pakistan stand shoulder to shoulder with their Saudi brothers and sisters. asserted
people → stand → brothers
There should be no doubt about it,” he said. asserted
he → say → it
“So, in a nutshell, we are there and will continue to defend the kingdom of Saudi Arabia against any aggression,” he said. asserted
he → continue → aggression
The military’s spokesperson added that Pakistan’s politico-military leadership remained in continuous contact and engagement with the Saudi leadership. asserted
leadership → add → leadership
He said that at the same time, Pakistan, “very earnestly and sincerely”, was working with the help of regional countries and others to find a “negotiated, peaceful outcome of this complex situation”. asserted
Pakistan → say → situation
“That’s where the position of Pakistan is,” he said. asserted
he → ’ → Pakistan
In another clip posted on X, he said Pakistan “remained not only committed, but we are already there for the protection of Haramain Sharifain and the kingdom of Saudi Arabia”. asserted
we → post → Arabia
“We are there to protect them,” he asserted, reiterating that Pakistan would “go to any extent” as required by the Saudi leadership. “Our commitment to Saudi security is unconditional. asserted
commitment → protect → security
It stems from a deep-rooted, historical and unbreakable bond between the people of Pakistan and the people of Saudi Arabia, between the political and the military leadership of both countries,” he said. asserted
he → stem → countries
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