Houthi Attacks Put Pakistan’s Saudi Defense Commitments and Iran Relations to the Test
ANKARA — Escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia are creating a diplomatic and military challenge for Pakistan as Islamabad seeks to honor its defense commitments to Riyadh while maintaining close relations with Iran, according to a report by Turkey’s Anadolu Agency.
Pakistan faces competing strategic interests involving two important regional partners. Saudi Arabia remains a major defense and financial ally, while Iran is an important partner in border security, trade, energy and regional diplomacy.
“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,” the report said.
The challenge follows the signing of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on August 7 by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey. The agreement establishes that an attack against any one of the three countries would be treated as an attack against all three.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry described the pact as a commitment to strengthening collective security and promoting regional stability.
“Pakistan cannot stay idle as it has committed itself to Saudi Arabia’s defence,” Umer Karim, a doctoral researcher at the University of Birmingham, told Anadolu Agency.
However, Karim warned that Pakistani military action against the Iran-backed Houthis could undermine Islamabad’s efforts to strengthen relations with Tehran and serve as a diplomatic intermediary between Iran and the United States.
Pakistan also has significant economic interests in maintaining its relationship with Saudi Arabia. Riyadh has provided financial assistance to Islamabad, including a pledge of an additional $3 billion and an extension of an existing $5 billion deposit to help ease pressure on Pakistan’s external finances.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s expanding military cooperation with Saudi Arabia has raised concerns in Iran.
Iranian lawmakers have criticized Islamabad’s growing defense alignment with Riyadh. Earlier this month, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei expressed concern over reports that Pakistan might deploy troops, saying he hoped the reports were only a “rumour.”
Pakistani leaders have sought to reassure Tehran that the agreement poses no threat to Iran.
President Asif Ali Zardari described the defense pact as “defensive and not directed against any country,” while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif subsequently reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has also emphasized that its military role would focus on defending Saudi territory rather than launching operations inside Yemen against Houthi forces.
On Friday, the ministry confirmed that Islamabad had deployed a “substantial” number of military personnel and resources in Saudi Arabia.
The developments underscore the difficulty Pakistan faces in balancing its security obligations to Saudi Arabia with its diplomatic and economic relationship with neighboring Iran, particularly as regional tensions threaten to draw additional countries into the conflict. (Source: IANS)
