Pakistan Pledges Saudi Security Support as Houthi Attacks Test Gulf Defence Alliances
By Sadaf Sundas Riaz — SCN NEWS
ISLAMABAD — Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed his country's commitment to Saudi Arabia's security on Friday as intensifying Houthi missile and drone attacks put growing pressure on Gulf defence arrangements, underscoring Islamabad's deepening strategic ties with Riyadh and its dependence on Saudi financial support.
Sharif told newly appointed Saudi Ambassador Dr Rajeh Tami Albugamy during a meeting in Islamabad that Pakistan stood shoulder to shoulder with the kingdom in protecting its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office. He condemned the latest attacks by Yemen's Houthi movement, which have killed civilians and injured others, including Pakistani nationals.
The assurance comes at a sensitive moment for Pakistan, whose expanding defence commitments to Saudi Arabia have become increasingly significant as the Yemen conflict spills across the kingdom's borders. Islamabad has also sought to maintain a diplomatic role in easing regional tensions, creating a difficult balance between its security obligations and efforts to prevent a wider Middle East confrontation.
Sharif described the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement and the Makkah Joint Defence Alliance as important milestones in bilateral relations, saying the arrangements reflected a shared commitment to regional peace and stability. His remarks followed an October 14 meeting with retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood, the first secretary-general of the Makkah defence alliance, who briefed the prime minister on efforts to strengthen strategic cooperation.
The government did not announce any new troop deployment or military operation following Friday's meeting. However, the emphasis on existing defence arrangements comes as Saudi Arabia faces an increasingly sophisticated campaign of Houthi attacks against airports, energy facilities and other strategic infrastructure.
Saudi-led coalition officials said Thursday that Houthi forces had attempted attacks on more than a dozen civilian and energy installations, including repeated strikes targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The coalition reported significant casualties and said it had destroyed numerous Houthi weapons facilities in retaliatory operations. The figures could not all be independently verified.
The escalation has highlighted vulnerabilities in Saudi Arabia's air defences despite years of substantial military investment. The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have developed increasingly capable missile and drone systems during more than a decade of conflict, drawing on Iranian support while expanding their ability to manufacture and assemble weapons locally.
Recent attacks have also targeted Saudi Aramco facilities, raising concerns about the security of the kingdom's energy infrastructure and its efforts to attract foreign investment. Disruptions to airports, commercial activity and major international events have added economic pressure as Riyadh pursues an ambitious programme to diversify beyond oil revenues.
Pakistan's relationship with Saudi Arabia extends beyond military cooperation. During Friday's meeting, Sharif thanked the Saudi leadership for its longstanding economic and financial assistance to Islamabad, acknowledging a relationship that has helped Pakistan manage external financing pressures and support its economy during periods of instability.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly provided Pakistan with financial assistance, including deposits and other support arrangements, while remaining an important destination for Pakistani workers whose remittances contribute to the country's foreign exchange earnings. The kingdom's economic importance adds another dimension to Islamabad's security commitments.
The Financial Times reported this week that Pakistan faces difficult choices as its defence cooperation with Saudi Arabia becomes more closely connected to the Yemen conflict. The prospect of deeper involvement has revived questions about the political and military consequences of participating in regional operations while attempting to preserve a role as a diplomatic intermediary.
Pakistan has previously been cautious about direct participation in Yemen's civil war. In 2015, parliament called for neutrality in the conflict while reaffirming the country's commitment to defending Saudi Arabia's territorial integrity, reflecting longstanding concerns about becoming entangled in a regional confrontation.
The current security environment is different, with new defence arrangements involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye creating additional expectations of cooperation. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said earlier this week that Ankara would submit the Makkah agreement to parliament for ratification, underscoring efforts to formalize the regional security framework.
The agreement's implementation and the precise circumstances under which participating countries could be required to provide military assistance remain important questions. Pakistan's latest public statements did not specify whether additional forces or equipment would be committed in response to the recent attacks.
Islamabad has also pursued diplomatic engagement aimed at reducing tensions involving Iran and other regional powers. That role could become more complicated if the conflict between Saudi-backed forces and the Iran-aligned Houthis expands further, particularly as Tehran faces accusations of providing military assistance to the Yemeni group.
Saudi officials have accused Iran of encouraging the latest Houthi escalation and supplying the movement with weapons and technical support. The Houthis have defended their operations as part of their wider military campaign and have rejected accusations that they act solely under Iranian direction.
The fighting has also intensified inside Yemen. A missile and drone attack on the presidential palace compound in Aden on Thursday killed five people and injured 16, according to reports from the Saudi-led coalition and Yemeni authorities. The Houthis claimed responsibility, saying they had targeted a military operations centre.
The widening conflict threatens shipping routes and economic activity around the Arabian Peninsula, including access to the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Continued attacks on civilian infrastructure could also increase pressure on Saudi Arabia and its partners to strengthen air defences or consider further military responses.
Sharif's meeting with Albugamy therefore carried significance beyond a routine diplomatic introduction. It reinforced Pakistan's public commitment to Saudi security at a time when the kingdom is confronting sustained attacks and when Islamabad's defence agreements are attracting greater international scrutiny.
The prime minister welcomed the ambassador to his new assignment and expressed confidence that bilateral cooperation would expand through existing institutional mechanisms. He also pledged support for efforts to deepen relations across economic, security and other sectors.
For Pakistan, the challenge is to maintain its longstanding strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia while limiting the risk that regional defence obligations could draw it further into the Yemen conflict. Friday's statement made clear where Islamabad stands diplomatically, but it left unanswered how far that commitment might extend if attacks on the kingdom continue.