Pakistan Says It Will Support Saudi Arabia if Yemen Conflict Escalates

Pakistan will stand by Saudi Arabia “practically and diplomatically” if the conflict involving Yemen’s Houthi rebels escalates, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday.

 

Speaking to Geo News, Asif said Pakistan would fulfil its obligations under the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-Türkiye defence agreement, which provides for collective action if the territorial integrity of a member state comes under threat.

 

His remarks came after the Saudi-led coalition accused the Houthis of targeting Makkah with a drone, a claim the Houthis denied.

 

Asif said Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi Arabia would extend beyond the trilateral agreement, particularly in the event of threats to the holy sites in Makkah and Madina. He did not provide details on any potential military engagement, saying such strategies could not be disclosed publicly.

 

Meanwhile, ISPR Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the trilateral defence pact was defensive in nature, focused on collective deterrence and regional stability, and did not have broader regional ambitions.

 

The agreement, signed on August 7, states that an attack on one member would be treated as an attack on all. Pakistan is set to lead the alliance’s secretariat for the first three years.