Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Pakistan Denies Its Jets Attacked Houthis Amid Saudi Pact Test
Pakistan says its air force did not attack the Houthis in Yemen.
The New York Times reported, citing unnamed Pakistani officials, that Pakistani planes were helping target Houthi drone and missile threats.
Pakistan’s information ministry called that report fake and fabricated.
A report in Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper said Pakistani planes may have been doing reconnaissance.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have agreed to rapidly deploy military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan’s defence minister said Pakistani and Turkish forces were present in the area, but only Saudi troops were fighting.
The three countries say their pact is defensive, so helping protect Saudi Arabia is different from attacking targets in Yemen.
Houthi attacks on Saudi airports reportedly killed three people and injured dozens.
Pakistan’s information ministry called reports that Pakistan Air Force jets struck Houthi targets in Yemen “fake and fabricated.”
The New York Times, citing unnamed Pakistani officials, reported that PAF aircraft were being used for air support against Houthi drones and missiles; Pakistan’s military declined to comment.
A Dawn report indicated Pakistani aircraft may have conducted reconnaissance, while the reports also described forces in Saudi Arabia as potentially helping protect oil infrastructure.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye agreed on Monday to rapidly deploy agreed military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia under their collective-defence pact.
Khawaja Asif said Pakistan and Türkiye had a presence in the theatre but only Saudi troops were conducting combat operations; Houthi attacks on Saudi airports reportedly killed three people and injured dozens.
- Who
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye; Pakistan’s information ministry; the Houthis.
- What
- Pakistan denied reports that its air force struck Houthi targets, as the three countries advanced military cooperation under a collective-defence pact.
- When
- The denial and reported Houthi attacks were on Thursday; the three-country meeting was on Monday. The pact was signed on August 7.
- Where
- The alleged strikes were in Yemen; the military deployment agreement concerns Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- Pakistan is seeking to uphold its security commitment to Saudi Arabia while avoiding direct involvement in the broader conflict with Iran-backed Houthis.
Pakistan’s denial and defensive framing
Reported use of Pakistani aircraft
Whether PAF jets struck Houthi targets
Pakistan’s denial and defensive framing
Pakistan’s information ministry said the claim that PAF aircraft were employed against the Houthis was fake and fabricated.
Reported use of Pakistani aircraft
The New York Times cited unnamed Pakistani officials who said PAF fighter jets were being used in strikes; Dawn separately indicated aircraft may have conducted reconnaissance.
Pakistan’s role under the pact
Pakistan’s denial and defensive framing
Pakistan and Türkiye have said the pact is defensive, and Khawaja Asif said only Saudi troops were involved in combat operations.
Reported use of Pakistani aircraft
The New York Times report described a possible Pakistani air-support role against Houthi drone and missile threats, while reporting that Pakistani forces could help secure Saudi oil infrastructure.
- Pakistan’s denial
- The information ministry called reports that PAF aircraft were employed against the Houthis “fake and fabricated.”
- New York Times report
- The newspaper cited unnamed Pakistani officials who said PAF fighter jets were being used in strikes and that Pakistan’s role was expected to focus on air support.
- Dawn report
- Dawn indicated that Pakistani aircraft may have been involved in reconnaissance operations.
- Defence pact
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye agreed to rapidly deploy agreed military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia.
- Combat operations
- Khawaja Asif said Pakistan and Türkiye had a presence in the theatre, but only Saudi troops were involved in combat operations.
- Saudi airport attacks
- Saudi officials said Houthi strikes on airports in Riyadh and Abha on Wednesday killed three people and injured dozens; the Houthis also claimed a ballistic-missile strike on Riyadh’s main international airport on Thursday.
- Pact’s stated purpose
- The agreement treats an armed attack on one member as an attack on all; Pakistan and Türkiye have described it as defensive, not offensive.
