Pakistan Reaffirms Saudi Defense Pact After Houthi Attacks

The Government of Pakistan has declared unconditional support for Saudi Arabia following Houthi attacks on southern cities, including Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran, which injured 73 people. During a UN Security Council meeting on September 10, Pakistan's Permanent Representative described the strikes as a "flagrant violation" of Saudi sovereignty and called for a UN-led political settlement in Yemen.

Internal government communications regarding a military response have shifted over the last 48 hours. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif initially warned that the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement—a trilateral security framework signed August 7 by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye—could become operational to confront aggression. However, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan later clarified that no specific military response is currently under discussion and that the pact is purely defensive. Khan added that there are no plans to expand the alliance to other countries.

Regional tensions remain high as senior Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti warned that any direct intervention by Pakistan or Türkiye on behalf of Saudi Arabia would carry a "heavy price." In response to the volatility, Pakistan's Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, held telephone talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss reducing regional tensions and the potential revival of negotiations between Iran and the United States.