Pakistan-Saudi Mecca Pact: Historic Deal, But No Military Action Against Houthis For Now | Exclusive

Pakistan on Thursday ruled out any immediate military action against Yemen’s Houthi rebels under its newly signed defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, while stressing that the pact provides an umbrella for future defence cooperation.

Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said there was currently no discussion on kinetic action against the Houthis under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, even as Islamabad continues to closely coordinate with Saudi Arabia on defence and security matters.

The spokesperson said Pakistan would act under the agreement if the situation warranted it, but stressed that its implementation would take time and that more dimensions of the three-way defence cooperation would emerge gradually.

The

clarification comes amid heightened tensions in West Asia and fresh Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia. Pakistan has already urged Iran to use its influence over the Houthis and prevent further attacks against the Kingdom.

The Mecca agreement, signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, is designed to strengthen collective defence and deterrence. Under the pact, an armed attack against any one of the three countries is to be treated as an attack against all.

However, Islamabad has maintained that the agreement is defensive in nature and does not automatically mean Pakistani military intervention in every security crisis involving Saudi Arabia. Pakistan also pointed to its existing military presence in Saudi Arabia, saying Pakistani forces are already deployed there for training and logistical support as part of longstanding bilateral defence cooperation.

The Foreign Office said the new agreement should be viewed as a broader framework under which additional defence mechanisms and cooperation can develop.

The three countries have already begun institutionalising the pact, including through the Strategic Political and Defence Committee established under the agreement.

The latest Pakistani position is likely to ease speculation that Islamabad could immediately enter the Yemen conflict following the latest Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.

For now, Pakistan is signalling that while the Mecca pact creates a framework for collective action if circumstances warrant it, no military operation against the Houthis is currently under consideration.