Pakistan’s decision to deploy additional military forces to Saudi Arabia under a defence arrangement has highlighted the growing role of the military in shaping the country’s foreign policy under Field Marshal Asim Munir. According to a report published on October 9, Islamabad agreed to the deployment without a parliamentary vote, marking a contrast with the political debate that preceded Pakistan’s decision to stay out of a Saudi-led intervention in Yemen in 2015. The latest move comes as Saudi Arabia faces escalating attacks from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement.

The defence arrangement was reportedly activated on Monday for the first time under a pact Pakistan signed with Saudi Arabia and Turkey in August. The agreement provides a framework for cooperation among the countries, while the latest deployment places Pakistan’s military at the centre of its response to developments affecting Saudi security. The decision has drawn attention to the extent of civilian involvement in major defence and foreign policy decisions, particularly when deployments are undertaken without a parliamentary vote.

Pakistan’s military leadership has gained additional institutional authority following constitutional changes introduced last year. These changes placed Munir in command of all three armed services until 2030, while granting him the lifetime rank of field marshal and immunity from criminal prosecution, according to the report. Munir is widely regarded as having greater domestic influence than many of his predecessors, with analysts pointing to the military’s continuing role in national security and political affairs.

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The latest deployment also comes amid renewed political tensions within Pakistan. Supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan and his party have been marching towards Islamabad, accusing the army of exerting excessive influence over the country’s political system. The military has denied accusations that it dominates politics. The protests add to the domestic pressures facing the government as the country pursues regional security cooperation and manages its relationship with Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan’s military has historically played a prominent role in national decision-making, including matters involving security, foreign relations and relations with neighbouring countries. The 2015 parliamentary decision over Yemen illustrated the extent to which elected representatives could debate and influence the country’s military commitments abroad. The absence of a similar parliamentary vote for the latest deployment has therefore drawn attention to how decisions on overseas military operations are being made under the current leadership.

The latest developments underline the connection between Pakistan’s regional defence commitments and its domestic political balance. While the arrangement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey reflects closer security cooperation, analysts cited in the report see the deployment as another indication of the military’s expanding influence. The longer-term implications will depend on the scope of the deployment, the evolving security situation in the Gulf and the relationship between Pakistan’s military leadership, civilian government and elected representatives.

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