News
October 09, 2026
Report of Use of PAF Aircraft against Houthis "Fake and Fabricated"
Islamabad: The information ministry on Thursday rubbished what it said was a "fake and fabricated" report by The New York Times claiming that Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aircraft had been used against the Houthis amid the group's escalating conflict with Saudi Arabia.
The New York Times report published on October 7 cited an unnamed source as claiming that PAF fighter jets were being deployed against the Houthis amid tensions between the group and Saudi Arabia.
Sharing a screenshot of the NYT report in a post on X, the ministry stated that it was "fake and fabricated".
The ministry added that international media houses were "again asked to avoid speculative reporting with regards to employment of Pakistan's military forces under Makkah Joint Defense Agreement".
It further said that details of any employment, if necessary, would be given by the "concerned authorities".
The statement also came a day after Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that Pakistani troops were present in Saudi Arabia in "multiple capabilities" amid the kingdom's conflict with Yemen's Houthis and developments related to it.
In an interview with CNN, the military spokesperson was questioned about whether Pakistani military personnel were present in the kingdom as part of the Makkah Defense Alliance, to which he said: "I do confirm that the forces of Pakistan are already there ... the Pakistani troops have been there for decades in multiple capabilities."
On August 7, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye formalized their longstanding strategic relationship through the newly signed Makkah pact, a trilateral security framework that its proponents describe as a defensive arrangement aimed at strengthening collective deterrence, enhancing military cooperation and promoting regional stability.
In a major development that may have far-reaching implications for the region, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye activated the practical implementation of their collective defense commitments on Monday.
According to a joint statement issued on Monday night, the activation entailed immediate deployment of "the agreed military forces and capabilities to the kingdom in response to security threats". - The Express Tribune
Courtesy The Express Tribune
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