Jakarta, 18 September 2026 (Kamran Raja): Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to defending Saudi Arabia against any aggression, with Pakistan Army spokesperson and Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry saying Islamabad would go “to any extent” to protect the Kingdom. Speaking in an interview on Thursday, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan fully stands with Saudi Arabia both diplomatically and physically, stressing that the country’s commitment extends to the protection of Saudi Arabia and Islam’s two holiest sites in Makkah and Madinah. He said Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi security was unconditional and reflected a deep-rooted and historic bond between the peoples and leaderships of the two countries. Asked whether Riyadh had requested Pakistani troops, air-defence systems or direct participation against Houthi attacks, the ISPR director general did not disclose whether any such request had been made, saying Pakistan’s political and military leadership remained in continuous communication with the Saudi leadership on all relevant matters. He added that Pakistan’s political leadership, Foreign Office and other officials were consulting regional governments to pursue a negotiated and peaceful resolution to the wider crisis. Referring to the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, he described it as a consensus document that could provide a pathway out of the complex military situation, while saying Islamabad continued efforts to bring the concerned parties back to negotiations despite mistrust and what he called “spoilers” and “detractors.” He said Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to find common ground and promote a peaceful outcome were continuing.