Pakistan’s defence minister says Islamabad will stand by Saudi Arabia if the regional conflict escalates, citing the countries’ defence commitments.
WEB DESK: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security, saying Islamabad would stand by the kingdom if the regional conflict escalates.
Asif’s remarks come amid heightened fighting between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels and renewed attention to the Pakistan-Saudi-Turkish defence framework.
The defence minister said Pakistan would support Saudi Arabia “practically and diplomatically” if the situation worsened.
Pakistan-Saudi defence commitments
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August 2026. The agreement provides for collective defence cooperation and states that an armed attack against one member would be regarded as an attack against all three.
Asif has previously said the agreement could become operational if the conflict in Yemen spills over into Saudi Arabia. He said Pakistan was bound by the terms of the pact and would honour its commitments if required.
The Foreign Office has described the agreement as defensive in nature and said its purpose is to strengthen collective deterrence rather than target another country.
Regional tensions
The latest statements follow a period of increased military confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Saudi authorities have accused the Houthis of attacks targeting Saudi territory, while the Houthis have rejected some of Riyadh’s allegations. The escalation has increased concerns about the security of Saudi Arabia and key regional waterways.
Pakistan has also stressed the importance of a diplomatic resolution. Earlier, Asif said Islamabad would work both practically and diplomatically with Saudi Arabia if the situation escalated.
Pakistan’s security position
Pakistan’s military leadership has separately reaffirmed the country’s commitment to Saudi security.
Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan stood with Saudi Arabia both diplomatically and physically and described Islamabad’s commitment to the kingdom’s security as unconditional.
At the same time, Pakistani officials have continued to emphasise diplomatic efforts aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to the regional conflict.
Further developments will depend on the trajectory of the fighting and whether the conflict expands beyond Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
