Pakistan has pledged to deploy "whatever means" necessary to protect Saudi Arabia if the kingdom comes under threat from Iran-backed Houthi forces, according to Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.
Speaking on the development of a new mutual defence pact between the two nations, Asif confirmed that Islamabad is committed to supporting Riyadh under the terms of the agreement should any hostile actions by the Houthi movement arise.
Why It Matters
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share a decades-long security alliance, with Islamabad historically providing military training, advisers, and troops to assist in safeguarding the kingdom. This new defense agreement comes amid persistent regional instability driven by the conflict in Yemen, where the Iran-aligned Houthi movement has repeatedly launched drone and missile strikes against Saudi infrastructure. By formalizing this mutual defense commitment, Pakistan reinforces its strategic alignment with Riyadh while navigating complex diplomatic balancing acts in the Middle East, particularly regarding its own neighbor, Iran.
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