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Pakistan Rejects Report Its Jets Struck Houthis in Yemen
A newspaper reported that Pakistani fighter jets were helping Saudi Arabia attack the Houthis in Yemen.
Pakistan’s government said that report was made up.
Pakistan’s military spokesperson confirmed that Pakistani forces are in Saudi Arabia, but kept details secret.
One anonymous Pakistani official said the forces might help defend against drones and missiles.
He said they were not expected to join a ground attack inside Yemen.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have a defence agreement with Turkey.
The countries said they would quickly send forces and equipment to Saudi Arabia if needed.
Pakistan says any role its forces have would be defensive.
Its leaders have not said whether Pakistani forces will operate inside Yemen.
The New York Times reported that Pakistani fighter jets were being used in Saudi strikes against the Houthis in Yemen.
Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry called the report “fake and fabricated” and urged media to avoid speculation.
Pakistani military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed Pakistani forces were in Saudi Arabia but did not disclose their numbers or capabilities.
An anonymous Pakistani official told the Times that Pakistan’s expected role would focus on air support against Houthi drones and missiles, not a ground offensive.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, along with Turkey, said they would implement collective-defence commitments and arrange rapid deployment of forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia.
- Who
- Pakistan’s government and military, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the Houthis.
- What
- Pakistan rejected a report that its fighter jets were conducting strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, while confirming Pakistani forces are in Saudi Arabia.
- Where
- Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
- When
- The report and Pakistan’s rejection were published on Thursday; the military spokesperson spoke on Wednesday, and the three countries issued a joint statement on Monday.
- Why
- Pakistan said the claim about its jets was fabricated; its military spokesperson described Pakistan’s commitment as defensive and tied to Saudi security.
Pakistan’s official position
Reported and attributed claims
Whether Pakistani jets are striking in Yemen
Pakistan’s official position
Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry rejected the claim as fake and fabricated.
Reported and attributed claims
The New York Times reported, citing an anonymous Pakistani military official, that Pakistani Air Force fighter jets were being used in strikes against the Houthis.
What Pakistani forces may do
Pakistan’s official position
Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said any Pakistani involvement would be defensive and declined to say whether forces would operate across the border in Yemen.
Reported and attributed claims
An anonymous Pakistani official told the Times that Pakistan’s expected role would include air support to reduce the Houthi drone and missile threat; a former US official said the contingent would probably protect oil infrastructure rather than fight directly.
Key facts
- Report
- The New York Times said Pakistani fighter jets were being used in strikes against the Houthis.
- Pakistan’s response
- The Information and Broadcasting Ministry called the report “fake and fabricated.”
- Confirmed deployment
- Military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistani forces were already in Saudi Arabia but did not disclose numbers or capabilities.
- Possible role
- An anonymous Pakistani official said the expected role would involve air support against Houthi drones and missiles, rather than a ground offensive in Yemen.
- Defence agreement
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey said they would implement collective-defence commitments and ensure rapid deployment of forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia.
- Past decision
- Pakistan’s Parliament voted against sending troops to support Saudi Arabia’s campaign against the Houthis in 2015.
- Regional consideration
- The article says Pakistan’s calculations are complicated by its relationship with neighboring Iran, which backs the Houthis, and its role in mediation efforts between Iran and the United States.
Quotes
Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry
Head of Pakistan’s military media wing.
“Anyone having some funny ideas against another will hopefully think twice, thrice, or multiple times before doing that. That stops something terrible from happening.”
theprint.in
Sources
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