Houthi Attacks Test Pakistan’s Ability to Defend Saudi Arabia

October 18, 2026

Increasing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia are testing Pakistan’s ability to defend Riyadh without affecting its ties with Iran, even as experts warn that Islamabad’s deeper military involvement could have major consequences at home and across the border.

Islamabad’s dilemma brings together two relationships it has strong reasons to preserve: a defence and financial partnership with Riyadh, and cooperation with Tehran on border security, trade, energy and regional diplomacy.

On August 7, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. Under the pact, an attack on any one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all three nations. The agreement reflected their shared commitment “to further strengthen their collective security and to promote peace, security, and stability in the region and beyond, in pursuit of a secure and prosperous future.”

“Pakistan cannot stay idle as it has committed itself to Saudi Arabia’s defence,” Anadolu Agency quoted Umer Karim, a doctoral researcher at the University of Birmingham, as saying.

However, Karim warned that defending Saudi Arabia against Iran-backed Houthis could affect Pakistan’s efforts to deepen ties with Tehran and facilitate talks between Iran and the United States.

Apart from military cooperation, Saudi Arabia has also offered financial support to Pakistan to help manage pressure on its external finances. This includes a pledge of an additional USD 3 billion in financial assistance, along with an extension of an existing USD 5 billion deposit.

Iranian lawmakers have criticised Pakistan’s growing military alignment with Saudi Arabia. Earlier this month, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei expressed concern over reports of a possible deployment of Pakistani soldiers, adding that he hoped the reports were only a “rumour”.

Pakistan’s leadership has sought to reassure Tehran. President Asif Ali Zardari said the agreement was “defensive and not directed against any country”, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi security the following day.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has said its forces would defend Saudi Arabia rather than enter Yemen to launch attacks against the Houthis.

On Friday, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said Islamabad had deployed a “substantial” number of military personnel and resources in Saudi Arabia.