Makkah Agreement: Houthi Attacks, Saudi Security and Pakistan’s Policy

KARACHI: Pakistan faces a delicate diplomatic and security challenge as escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia put the recently signed Makkah Joint Defense Agreement to its first major test, while Islamabad seeks to honour its defense commitments to Riyadh without damaging its important relationship with neighbouring Iran.
The issue has assumed greater urgency following Saturday’s deadly attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, where at least 12 people were killed and more than 300 injured. Saudi authorities blamed Yemen’s Houthi movement for the attack, which marked one of the deadliest strikes on the Kingdom in more than a decade.
The attack came amid a sharp escalation in fighting between Saudi-backed forces in Yemen and the Houthis, who have also warned airlines and travellers against using Saudi airports as the confrontation widens.
For Pakistan, the developments carry particular significance because of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye on August 7, 2026.
Under the agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three countries is regarded as an attack against all. The pact is aimed at strengthening collective deterrence and expanding defense cooperation among the three Muslim states. Pakistan has repeatedly stressed, however, that the agreement is defensive and is not directed against any particular country.
The Foreign Office made Pakistan’s position particularly clear on October 9, saying Pakistani forces deployed in Saudi Arabia would protect the Kingdom’s territory and sovereignty but would not cross into Yemen to launch offensive operations against Houthi forces.
“The Makkah Alliance is a defensive organisation,” Foreign Office spokesperson Ambassador Sajjad Haider Khan said, adding that the forces “would not cross the border into Yemen to launch attacks against the Houthis.”
The clarification draws an important line between Pakistan’s obligation to defend Saudi territory and direct participation in the Yemen war.
Pakistan has longstanding strategic, economic and religious ties with Saudi Arabia, while millions of Pakistanis have lived and worked in the Kingdom over the years. The security of Makkah and Madinah also holds extraordinary importance for Pakistan and the wider Muslim world.
At the same time, Islamabad has to carefully manage its relations with Iran, with which it shares a long border and significant security, economic and regional interests.
The challenge therefore goes beyond military considerations. Any perception that Pakistan has become directly involved in military operations against an Iranian-aligned group could complicate Islamabad’s ties with Tehran and add another layer of tension to an already volatile regional environment.
Pakistan appears to be seeking a diplomatic path alongside its defense commitments.
Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said members of the Makkah defense arrangement would discuss an Iranian suggestion for political engagement with the Houthis. Pakistan has viewed dialogue as one possible way of preventing the Saudi-Houthi confrontation from developing into a wider regional conflict.
An emergency meeting of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in Riyadh on October 5 also moved towards practical implementation of their collective defense commitments amid continuing missile and drone attacks.
Islamabad’s emerging policy therefore appears to rest on two parallel tracks: strengthening Saudi Arabia’s ability to defend its territory while keeping diplomatic channels with Tehran open and avoiding offensive military involvement inside Yemen.
The approach could give Pakistan a potentially important role in any future effort to de-escalate the crisis. Unlike many regional players, Islamabad maintains close strategic relations with Riyadh while retaining direct political and diplomatic access to Tehran.
The latest Riyadh attack, however, has increased pressure on Saudi Arabia and its allies to respond firmly. The United States has also indicated that it is considering further military support as fears grow that the Yemen conflict could become another major front in the wider Middle East confrontation.
For Pakistan, the coming days may therefore require particularly careful diplomacy. Islamabad is expected to stand firmly behind Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial security under the Makkah Agreement, while continuing to emphasise that its military commitment remains defensive.
The success of that policy will depend on Pakistan’s ability to demonstrate solidarity with Riyadh without closing the door on Tehran – and, where possible, to use its relationship with both countries to help prevent the Saudi-Houthi conflict from triggering an even wider regional war.