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Pakistan on Thursday denied a New York Times (NYT) report that its air force fighter jets are taking part in strikes against Yemen's Houthis, calling the claim "fake and fabricated," as the Iran-backed group pressed its attacks on Saudi Arabia.
"The claim in the above-referenced NYT report that Pakistan Air Force aircraft are being used against the Houthis is fake and fabricated," Pakistan's Information Ministry said
The report came days after Pakistan and Türkiye agreed to rapidly deploy forces to Saudi Arabia under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement (MJDA), raising questions over whether the pact could draw its members into the war in Yemen.
A senior Pakistani military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The New York Times on Wednesday that Pakistan Air Force jets were being used in strikes against the Houthis.
A second Pakistani official said Pakistan's role was expected to focus on degrading Houthi drone and missile threats through air support rather than a ground offensive in Yemen, the newspaper reported.
Col. David O. Smith, a former U.S. Army attache in Pakistan, said the consensus among analysts is that about 8,000 Pakistani troops are deployed in Saudi Arabia, likely to help secure oil infrastructure.
He said they are unlikely to engage in direct combat as Islamabad seeks to preserve ties with Iran.
The Information Ministry urged international media to avoid speculative reports on Pakistani deployments under the pact. "If necessary, details of the deployment will be made public by the relevant institutions," it said.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated Thursday that Türkiye will not send troops to attack another country.
"Once a country that is party to the agreement is attacked, you stand by it for its defense. This is not an attack agreement," Fidan said at a press conference with Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Anita Orban in Ankara.
"Türkiye will not send troops to another country's territory and carry out an attack there," he said, adding that Ankara was assessing with Pakistan how it could contribute to Saudi defenses against attacks from Yemen.
Fidan said preparations to submit the agreement to parliament were complete.
"Yesterday we also made our final submission to our President on this matter. We have decided to refer this to parliament as soon as possible," he said.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree on Thursday called on staff at Saudi oil facilities to leave. "Employees at all oil facilities must leave areas that are targets for our forces, so as not to endanger their lives," Saree wrote on X, also warning airlines, airports and travelers.
"Our armed forces targeted King Khalid Airport in Riyadh at midday with a ballistic missile that hit its target," Saree said, after the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted two missiles fired at the capital.
Residents reported multiple explosions in Riyadh on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia's Civil Aviation Authority said Houthi strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday killed two women and injured 28 people at Abha International Airport, and killed a Sudanese man and injured eight at King Khalid International Airport.
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