Pakistani troops sent to Saudi Arabia.

The Pakistani army’s press service said last week that the troops being sent to Saudi Arabia “will not be employed outside” the kingdom, most probably referring to the fighting in Yemen.

The Pakistani troops sent to Saudi Arabia are not supposed to fight in Yemen (Picture source: pakistankakhudahafiz.com )

Pakistan is sending troops to Saudi Arabia on a "training and advise mission". The exact role they will play is unknown so far. However, a statement from the army's press wing on Thursday stressed they "will not be employed outside" the kingdom, three years after Pakistan decided against sending soldiers to join the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen. Saudi Arabia had asked Pakistan to provide ships, aircraft and troops for the Yemen campaign to stem the influence of Shi'ite Iran in what appears to be proxy war between the Gulf's two dominant powers. Pakistan's parliament voted to remain neutral to avoid being pulled into a sectarian regional power struggle, in part because the country shares a border with Iran and has a sizeable Shi'ite minority.

Pakistan's retired army chief, General Raheel Sharif, commands the new Saudi-led Islamic military alliance sent to fight terrorism, though it is not immediately clear how the new troops would participate in that coalition.

There are already about 750-800 Pakistani servicemen in Saudi Arabia, in part to guard Islamic holy sites, but they are not fully equipped as combat troops.