Saudi Arabia's escalating confrontation with Houthi forces in Yemen is testing Pakistan's commitment to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. The agreement, signed on August 7 by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye, commits the three countries to collective deterrence and defence cooperation. An armed attack on one member is regarded as an attack on all. Intensified Houthi attacks on Saudi cities and energy infrastructure have prompted Riyadh to seek military assistance from partners.
Pakistan has stopped short of announcing direct military action, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Sajjad Haider Khan stating on September 10 that no immediate military response under the Makkah agreement had been discussed. Islamabad has reaffirmed its support for Saudi Arabia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security. This reflects the delicate balance confronting Pakistan, which wants to reassure Riyadh that its defence commitment is meaningful without being drawn into a wider Middle Eastern conflict.
Pakistan's position has a precedent, with the country's parliament backing neutrality in the 2015 conflict in Yemen while affirming its commitment to defend Saudi Arabia if the Kingdom's territorial integrity or holy sites were threatened. Islamabad has historically differentiated between defending Saudi territory and participating in Saudi-led military operations outside the Kingdom. The Makkah agreement has given this relationship a more formal collective-defence dimension.
The agreement's stated purpose is to strengthen collective deterrence against aggression, with Pakistan describing the accord as defensive and consistent with the right of individual and collective self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. However, the challenge is determining what would trigger an operational response, as the agreement does not specify the military measures that would automatically follow an attack on one of its members.
Türkiye has indicated it could help meet Saudi military requirements under the pact, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan saying Ankara was prepared to provide technical military assistance. Saudi Arabia has also approached Western and regional partners, with Britain agreeing to provide limited air-to-air refuelling support for Saudi aircraft. The growing international involvement reflects the wider implications of the conflict, including concerns about energy supplies, maritime security, and global trade.
For Pakistan, the stakes extend beyond its relationship with Saudi Arabia, as Islamabad maintains important ties with Iran and has supported diplomatic efforts to stabilise Yemen. Direct military involvement against the Houthis could complicate its relations with Tehran and expose Pakistan to the wider consequences of the regional conflict. Pakistani military personnel have historically provided training and security assistance in Saudi Arabia, making the current crisis a significant test of the depth of that relationship.
The Makkah agreement also involves Türkiye, a NATO member, creating questions about how Ankara would reconcile its obligations under the trilateral pact with its existing commitments and consultations within the Atlantic alliance. As attacks on Saudi Arabia continue, Islamabad is being confronted with the practical meaning of its commitment under the Makkah agreement, and how that principle translates from a declaration of collective deterrence into an actual military response.
Key points
- Pakistan faces pressure to demonstrate its commitment to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement following intensified Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
- The agreement commits Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye to collective deterrence and defence cooperation.
- Islamabad has so far stopped short of announcing direct military action.
