Mecca Pact, but no troops yet: Pak expresses 'solidarity' with Saudi after Houthi attacks
Pakistan has expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia following Houthi drone attacks on oil infrastructure, though it has stopped short of committing military troops. The Pakistani leadership is focusing on diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region and protect energy supplies.
Why it matters
Highlights the delicate geopolitical balancing act Pakistan maintains regarding its security ties with Saudi Arabia and regional stability.
The Mecca pact may promise “one for all, all for one”, but Pakistan is not putting boots on the ground just yet.Islamabad on Sunday expressed “complete solidarity” with Saudi Arabia after a fresh wave of Houthi attacks on the kingdom, while warning that the strikes could threaten regional security and further disrupt global energy supplies.Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conveyed Pakistan’s support to Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman during a phone call, according to the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office.The outreach came a day after Saudi Arabia temporarily shut its 1,200-km East-West oil pipeline following a drone attack launched from Iraq.The pipeline is an important alternative route for Saudi oil exports as it allows crude to reach the Red Sea without passing through the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been severely disrupted by the wider US-Iran conflict since February.“While expressing complete solidarity with the Saudi leadership as well as the…
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