Houthi attacks expose gaps in Pakistan's defence pact with Saudi Arabia

What Happened

On 7 August, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed a Joint Defence Agreement in Mecca stating that an attack on one signatory would be treated as an attack on all. On 8 September, Iran-backed Houthi forces launched a massive drone and missile barrage into Saudi Arabia, striking critical military and energy infrastructure. Neither Pakistan nor Turkey launched military counter-operations alongside Saudi Arabia, opting for diplomatic statements instead.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

Pakistan has a longstanding military presence in Saudi Arabia, including troops and Pakistan Air Force fighter and support aircraft at King Abdulaziz Air Base under the separate Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed in September 2025. The current dilemma mirrors Pakistan's 2015 parliamentary vote to remain neutral rather than join the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. Qamar Cheema of the Sanober Institute said the alliance is intended as a deterrent against state actors and to help Saudi Arabia avoid a repeat of the Strait of Hormuz crisis. If Houthi strikes cause mass casualties among Pakistani personnel, public and political pressure in Islamabad could force direct military involvement, drawing Pakistan into a wider Middle Eastern war while straining its ties with Iran.

Watch For

Monitor whether Houthi drone and missile strikes escalate further and whether any Pakistani personnel at Saudi strategic sites, including King Abdulaziz Air Base, are killed or wounded. Watch Pakistan's role in the Saudi-led Multinational Maritime Defence Alliance launched on 30 July and the US-led Combined Task Force 150 around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Red Sea, and Gulf of Aden. Also track any parliamentary or cabinet decision in Islamabad on invoking the 7 August pact, and any new Saudi or Turkish military operations against Houthi positions in Yemen.