Islamabad has expressed its backing for Riyadh amid a rise in drone and missile strikes carried out by Houthi forces in Yemen. Pakistan indicated that its backing would go beyond diplomatic channels and encompass tangible support if the situation demanded it.
Pakistan's military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated that the country maintains a strong dedication to Saudi Arabia's security. In an interview with a television news outlet, Chaudhry stated that Pakistan would back Saudi Arabia across both diplomatic and military channels, reaffirming the country's full commitment to the kingdom. He added that the term "physically" deserved particular emphasis. He stated that the protection of Haramain Sharifain and the Saudi kingdom would be pursued by whatever measures necessary.
The declaration came amid ongoing ballistic missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia attributed to the Houthi movement, which maintains alignment with Iran. The announcement by Saudi Arabia that a Houthi drone had been intercepted near Mecca prompted a further rise in tensions. Saudi Arabia characterised the alleged event as a threat, whereas Houthi representatives asserted that the sacred city had not been targeted.
Aerial bombardment of Houthi positions by Saudi forces has continued, with the Houthis also claiming to have carried out strikes on targets within Saudi territory. These events have prompted uncertainty about the extent to which Saudi Arabia's neighbours and allies would back the kingdom should hostilities broaden.
A mutual defence pact was formalised among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye in Mecca during August. Under the pact, any hostile action directed at one signatory nation is to be regarded as an act of aggression against all parties to the treaty. The defence components of the accord remain under development.
No formal request for military support from Saudi Arabia had been conveyed to Turkey, according to a diplomat from that country. The envoy further noted that armed intervention was not the sole option for resolving the situation, adding that direct communication between intelligence services might yield better results.
The nations involved are developing frameworks to put the defence pact into practice. Enhanced military cooperation across land, sea, and air branches forms part of the plan. The diplomat noted that building interoperability among the three nations' militaries would be a gradual process.
According to Chaudhry, ongoing dialogue between Pakistan's political and military leadership and Saudi officials had been maintained throughout. He further underlined Islamabad's dedication to the defence of Saudi Arabia and its two sacred sites.
The commitment from Pakistan arrives at a time when Saudi Arabia is contending with heightened tensions linked to the conflict in Yemen and is actively seeking backing from allies across the region and beyond.
