All articles tagged with #pakistan saudi relations
Pakistan faces mounting pressure to activate the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia intensify. While officials publicly pledge unconditional support, private concerns persist over economic strain and domestic instability. Analysts note the alliance lacks a clear command structure, complicating collective action.
Pakistan’s military chief pledged to defend Saudi Arabia 'to any extent' against Houthi aggression, invoking the recently signed Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. While Islamabad confirmed existing troop deployments to protect Mecca and Medina, it clarified that no new military action is currently planned under the pact. The commitment comes amid escalating Houthi strikes on Saudi infrastructure and a broader regional crisis involving US-Iran tensions.
Pakistan is urgently mending ties with Saudi Arabia after initially downplaying its obligations under the new Mecca defence pact. Following Houthi drone attacks that damaged Saudi infrastructure and forced the temporary closure of the 1,200-km East-West oil pipeline, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to express 'complete solidarity.' This diplomatic pivot follows earlier confusion where Islamabad suggested the pact did not automatically trigger military action. The crisis highlights Pakistan's dilemma: balancing its new security alliance with Riyadh against its reliance on Iranian energy routes and fears of direct war involvement.