Pakistan signals military response against Houthis as Mecca defence pact faces first major test

Pakistan has signalled that it is prepared to act militarily against Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis if their attacks on Saudi Arabia trigger the collective defence provisions of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, putting the month-old security pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to its first significant test.

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said there should be “no ambiguity” about Islamabad’s obligations under the agreement, which treats aggression against one member as aggression against all three. His comments followed a major wave of Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia on Tuesday that targeted an airbase and energy infrastructure across several southern cities and left at least 73 people injured.

Reports have suggested Pakistani airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen could be considered if the security situation deteriorates further. One potential objective could be Houthi-held areas around Saadah in northern Yemen. However, no Pakistani military operation against the group had been officially announced as of Wednesday.

Mecca Pact could be activated

The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on August 7, building on the principle of collective security. Islamabad and Riyadh also have a bilateral Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement. Asif said unprovoked aggression against a member or a spillover of Yemen’s conflict into Saudi territory could bring the new pact into operation.

“We are bound by the terms and conditions of this pact, and we will honour them in case there is a need,” Asif said. He stressed, however, that the agreement was defensive rather than a mechanism allowing the three countries to jointly launch wars. If a member faces aggression, the others would respond under their collective commitments, he said.

Asif also expressed hope that the latest confrontation would subside and cautioned the Houthis against taking the conflict beyond Yemen. Pakistan’s position suggests Islamabad could help defend Saudi territory from missile and drone attacks without necessarily joining a Saudi-led offensive inside Yemen.

Saudi-Houthi conflict escalates

The warnings follow one of the most serious Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia in years. The group targeted Khamis Mushait, Abha, Jizan and Najran with missiles and drones, striking military and energy infrastructure and setting oil installations ablaze. The escalation comes after months of worsening tensions between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces, threatening to unravel the relative calm that followed the 2022 UN-brokered truce.

The Houthis have said their attacks are retaliation for military action against areas under their control in Yemen. Saudi-backed forces, meanwhile, have launched operations on several fronts against the group. The Houthis remain closely aligned with Iran and possess an extensive arsenal of ballistic and cruise missiles and attack drones capable of striking deep inside Saudi territory.

Defence or offensive war

The distinction between defending Saudi Arabia and participating in an offensive campaign inside Yemen could become the central test for the Mecca Pact. Pakistan refused to join the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen in 2015 after its Parliament voted against participation, and Islamabad has historically sought to balance its close relationship with Riyadh against its ties with neighbouring Iran.

Asif has indicated that Pakistan views the Houthis as non-state actors whose presence inside Yemen should primarily be addressed by Yemeni authorities. That leaves open the possibility of Pakistani involvement if Saudi territory comes under sustained attack, while drawing a line against automatically joining any fresh Saudi ground offensive in Yemen.

The latest confrontation could therefore determine how far the three countries are prepared to take their collective-defence commitment — and whether the Mecca Pact functions primarily as a deterrent or evolves into an operational military alliance.