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Pakistan’s military picked a side in Arab world’s conflict—now it can’t escape consequences

Both the Pakistan Army officers who performed interventionist roles in the Arab conflict happen to have Jullundur origins. The similarities, however, end there.

Almost six decades after a Pakistani military officer decided to take sides in an intra-Arab quarrel, his successor in the top office has also intervened in the most economically vital conflict in West Asia. Pakistan Air Force jets reportedly attacked Houthi rebel advances across the Saudi-Yemen border. 

Pakistani troops are stationed in Saudi Arabia as part of the recently signed tripartite Mecca Joint Defence Agreement and are also believed to be operating a squadron of JF-17 fighter jets. 

Turkey, the third of the Mecca troika, is not known to have troops or equipment in Saudi Arabia. 

Without needing to refer to the Pakistan National Assembly, Field Marshal Asim Munir has deployed more than a brigade’s strength of troops, as well as air assets. President of Pakistan may well be the theoretical Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, but the self-elevated Field Marshal retains full control of the three services following a constitutional amendment in November 2025, when the 27th Constitutional Amendment created the office of Chief of Defence Forces, thus abolishing the nominal post of Joint Chiefs of Staff. Air assets, thus, are also under........

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