Pakistan Under Pressure as Saudi-Houthi Escalation Puts New Defence Pact to the Test

Pakistan is facing growing scrutiny over its newly established defence arrangement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey as tensions between Riyadh and Yemen’s Houthi movement intensify. Pakistan’s military has insisted that the trilateral defence pact is “purely defensive” and contains no offensive or aggressive element. Army spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the agreement is based on collective deterrence and longstanding strategic ties between the three countries.

The assurances come amid a rapidly changing security situation in Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities said they intercepted a Houthi drone near the restricted airspace around Mecca. The Houthis denied targeting the holy city and described the Saudi account as propaganda. The episode has nevertheless put Islamabad's new defence commitment under an immediate spotlight. Pakistan has publicly expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia, while its Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said Islamabad is prepared to fulfil its obligations under the Makkah Defence Agreement.

The agreement creates a difficult balancing act for Pakistan. Islamabad maintains important relations with Saudi Arabia while also seeking to avoid a wider confrontation involving Iran and the Houthis. Pakistan has previously urged restraint and diplomacy even as it reaffirmed its support for Riyadh. Questions are therefore emerging over how the new alliance would actually operate if Saudi Arabia faced a sustained attack. Pakistan's Foreign Office has said it remains committed to implementing the agreement but has declined to publicly disclose operational details, citing confidentiality.

For Islamabad, the developing crisis represents an early test of a defence arrangement that was only recently established. While Pakistan describes the pact as defensive, the escalation around Saudi Arabia could force the country to clarify how far its security commitments extend—and how it intends to balance those commitments with its broader regional relationships.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.