Pakistan is facing growing pressure over its defence agreement with Saudi Arabia as renewed fighting involving Saudi forces and Iran-backed Houthi rebels raises the possibility that Islamabad could be drawn deeper into the widening Middle East conflict.
The concern centres on the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in August. The pact states that an armed attack against any of the three countries would be regarded as an attack against all of them.
Saudi Arabia has recently come under repeated missile and drone attacks from Houthi forces operating in neighbouring Yemen, with attacks also affecting vital infrastructure. The escalation has raised questions about whether Riyadh could eventually invoke its mutual-defence arrangements and request military assistance from its partners.
Pakistan has publicly reaffirmed its commitment to the agreement. Its Foreign Ministry said the country remained committed, in intent and spirit, to implementing its defence agreements with Saudi Arabia, although officials have avoided disclosing what military response would follow any formal request from Riyadh.
The situation presents a difficult strategic challenge for Islamabad. Pakistan maintains relations with Iran, which is accused by Saudi Arabia and others of supporting the Houthis, while also maintaining longstanding security and economic ties with Riyadh.
Pakistan has previously avoided direct participation in Saudi-led military operations in Yemen. Any decision to become directly involved in the conflict could therefore represent a significant shift in its regional security policy.
The agreement has also created uncertainty over the circumstances that would trigger collective military action. Pakistani officials have stressed that operational details remain confidential, leaving questions over whether the pact would require Pakistan to deploy troops, provide air defence or offer other forms of military assistance if Saudi Arabia came under sustained attack.
Pakistan’s military leadership has maintained that the Makkah agreement is defensive in nature. The country’s military spokesman recently said the pact was designed for collective deterrence and had no regional expansion ambitions.
However, analysts cited in recent reporting have warned that a major Saudi military escalation in Yemen could place Islamabad in a difficult position. Pakistan would have to balance its obligations to Saudi Arabia against its relationship with neighbouring Iran and its own security challenges.
For now, Saudi Arabia has not formally requested Pakistani military intervention. But continued attacks and a possible expansion of the conflict could test the limits of the newly established defence arrangement.
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