Pakistan will defend Saudi Arabia in any conflict: Asif

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said Pakistan will stand by Saudi Arabia and provide support in the event of any conflict or threat to the kingdom’s security.

In an interview excerpt published by Al Jazeera, Asif said Pakistan would help Saudi Arabia whether the threat came from the Houthis, another country or any other group. He said Islamabad was committed to defending the kingdom against threats to its security.

Asif said there was no doubt in Pakistan’s position regarding what he described as Houthi aggression against Saudi Arabia. He explained that Pakistan was bound by its defence arrangements with Riyadh and that available capabilities would be made available to Saudi Arabia under those commitments.

The minister did not confirm whether Pakistani forces had already taken part in military strikes in Yemen. He also did not indicate whether Saudi Arabia had formally requested Pakistani military assistance.

His comments come amid renewed fighting involving the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. The escalation has included missile and drone attacks and increased tensions around the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb maritime route.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7. The agreement states that an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against all three, while also providing for enhanced defence cooperation. Pakistan has described the pact as defensive and aimed at collective deterrence.

The defence ministers’ remarks also follow a recent meeting of the military chiefs of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in Riyadh. The meeting focused on strengthening military coordination and implementing commitments under the new defence framework.

Asif also described the Houthis as enemies of Saudi Arabia and said Pakistan’s position on defending the kingdom was clear. At the same time, he maintained that Pakistan’s relations with Iran remained separate from its security commitments to Saudi Arabia.

He further suggested that some groups described as proxies can eventually operate independently of the states with which they were initially associated. Pakistan has continued to support diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the wider regional conflict.