Pakistan Rejects NYT Report Alleging PAF Fighter Jets Used Against Yemen’s Houthis

Information Ministry calls allegations ‘fake and fabricated’; no independent evidence publicly confirms Pakistani airstrikes in Yemen

ISLAMABAD, October 8 (Nazrana Times): Pakistan has strongly rejected a report published by The New York Times (NYT) claiming that Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jets were being used in military operations against Yemen’s Houthi movement, describing the allegations as “fake and fabricated.”
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a clarification on Thursday, dismissing the report and maintaining that the claims regarding Pakistani aircraft conducting operations against Houthi targets were inaccurate.
The controversy emerged after The New York Times published a report citing an unnamed Pakistani military source who allegedly claimed that PAF fighter jets were participating in operations targeting the Houthis.
However, the report did not publicly provide independently verifiable operational evidence establishing that Pakistani aircraft had conducted strikes inside Yemen.

Pakistan Denies Allegations

Responding to the report, Pakistan’s Information Ministry categorically rejected the allegations and questioned the accuracy of the information attributed to the unnamed military source.
The ministry maintained that information concerning Pakistani military deployments and operations would be communicated through authorised official channels.
Pakistan’s rejection comes amid increased regional security cooperation involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye following developments affecting security in the Middle East.

Pakistani Military Presence in Saudi Arabia

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained longstanding defence cooperation, including military training, advisory assistance and the deployment of Pakistani personnel in various capacities.
Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has previously acknowledged the presence of Pakistani military personnel in Saudi Arabia, describing such arrangements as part of established bilateral defence cooperation.
However, the presence of Pakistani military personnel in Saudi Arabia does not, by itself, establish that Pakistan Air Force aircraft have participated in combat missions against Yemen’s Houthis.

Regional Defence Cooperation

The controversy follows recent developments in regional defence arrangements involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
The three countries have strengthened military coordination and collective defence commitments aimed at addressing regional security challenges.
The arrangements include cooperation in defence preparedness, intelligence sharing and military coordination.
Nevertheless, publicly announced defence cooperation does not necessarily indicate Pakistani participation in offensive military operations inside Yemen.

No Independent Confirmation of Alleged Airstrikes

As of October 8, no independently verified public evidence has established that Pakistan Air Force fighter jets conducted airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen.
Pakistan has officially denied the allegation, while the original report attributed the claim to an unnamed military source.
The absence of publicly available corroborating evidence means that the allegation remains unverified. At the same time, an official denial alone does not conclusively establish that the original claim was fabricated.

Questions Over Pakistan’s Military Role

Pakistan has traditionally maintained close defence relations with Saudi Arabia while also emphasising regional stability and diplomatic engagement.
The latest controversy has raised questions about the extent of Pakistan’s military involvement in Middle Eastern security arrangements, particularly whether its role is limited to defensive cooperation, training and support or extends to direct combat operations.
For now, Pakistan’s official position remains that the allegations concerning PAF fighter jets being used against Yemen’s Houthis are false.
The matter remains subject to further independent verification, particularly regarding the claims attributed to the unnamed military source.
 

Source:  Pakistan Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, October 8, 2026.