Foreign Office says there is no current discussion on military action against Houthis as Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia work to establish mechanisms under the Makkah Defence Agreement.
ISLAMABAD Web Desk: Pakistan has ruled out any immediate military action against Houthi positions in Yemen, saying there is currently no such discussion despite escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned group.
Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia were currently focused on consolidating the newly formed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and developing the mechanisms required to make the arrangement operational.
The clarification comes after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif recently said the agreement could be activated if the conflict involving the Houthis spilled over and threatened Saudi Arabia, prompting speculation that Pakistan could become militarily involved.
Pakistan Says Military Action Is Not Under Discussion
Responding to a question about whether Pakistan was considering military action against Houthi positions in Yemen, Sajjad described the possibility as hypothetical.
He said Pakistan would act according to the provisions of the defence agreement, but added that “as of now, there is no discussion of this kind.”
The Foreign Office spokesperson described the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement as an umbrella arrangement requiring subsequent mechanisms to determine how it would operate.
He said the agreement was purely defensive and aimed at strengthening regional peace and stability.
Pakistan Reaffirms Support for Saudi Arabia
Pakistan has separately condemned Houthi attacks on civilian and economic sites in Saudi Arabia, including Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran.
The Foreign Office reiterated Islamabad’s support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.
The issue has become more significant following the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement by Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia last month.
The agreement provides a framework for collective defence, but officials have indicated that its detailed mechanisms and command structures still need to be developed.
Makkah Defence Agreement Not Yet Expanding
Sajjad also said there was currently no plan to expand the agreement to additional countries.
Speculation had emerged about the possible inclusion of countries including Egypt and Algeria, while some reports had also discussed a potential future role for Iran.
The spokesperson said the alliance could eventually remain open to countries with similar views, threat perceptions and security requirements, but stressed that expansion was not currently under discussion.
Pakistan Seeks to Avoid Direct Yemen Conflict
Pakistan already has bilateral defence cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including the deployment of Pakistani personnel in the kingdom for training and logistical purposes.
However, the Foreign Office’s latest comments indicate that Islamabad is seeking to maintain its strategic relationship with Riyadh while avoiding immediate direct involvement in another regional conflict.
Pakistan has repeatedly advocated dialogue and diplomacy as a means of resolving regional disputes. Sajjad said Islamabad also wanted peace and stability in Yemen and would continue supporting international efforts aimed at ending the conflict.
Pakistan’s Position on Afghanistan
During the same briefing, the Foreign Office spokesperson also addressed Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan.
Sajjad said Afghanistan was not considered an enemy state and described it as Pakistan’s neighbour with longstanding historical and civilisational ties.
He identified terrorism as the principal obstacle to normal relations, saying Pakistan wanted to see a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and was prepared to rebuild friendly relations if militant attacks originating from Afghan territory declined.
The spokesperson also highlighted Pakistan’s assistance to Afghanistan, including scholarships for Afghan students and support for infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges and hospitals.
