Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry

A Pakistani official told The New York Times on Wednesday that Pakistani air force jets have been used in strikes against the Houthis.

Pakistani military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry told CNN on Wednesday that the South Asian country's troops are already present in Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan and Turkey agreed on Monday to prepare forces for deployment to Saudi Arabia as per the Mecca Defense Pact.

The agreement is expected to be submitted to the Turkish parliament within a few days.

On Thursday, Pakistan's army spokesman said the country will do whatever it must to protect its people.

Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry accused the Taliban governor of Kandahar of hosting militant leaders in August, including Baloch separatists and Al-Qaeda members, to discuss attacks against Pakistan.

The Taliban dismisses the claims as propaganda.

For World, I'm Kristin Flavin.

South Korea's president, Lee Jae-myung, said his country would not deploy military assets in any form that would involve or enter the war, while adding that Seoul would do the minimum other countries were doing to protect its commercial shipping.

Pakistan's military spokesman, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, told Arab News that Pakistan would defend Saudi Arabia, saying we will go to any extent, though he did not say whether Riyadh had asked for more troops or air defenses.

The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed August 7 by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, has not made its operational terms public.

At the United Nations, Russia and China on Thursday vetoed the American draft that would have extended the mandate of the expert panel monitoring Iran sanctions.

This is the 6am GMT News bulletin from Arab News, coming to you from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

In news from Pakistan, the military's spokesperson, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, told Arab News the country will go to any extent to defend Saudi Arabia against attack.

He said Pakistan's commitment to Saudi security is unconditional, following recent Houthi missile and drone attacks on the kingdom.

Turning to Iran, the Revolutionary Guards said on Friday they struck an oil tanker sailing under the Toghalis flag in the Strait of Hormuz.