Pakistan blinks on Houthis, walks back Saudi defence warning within 24 hours
Pakistan has clarified that it is not currently discussing a military response to Houthi attacks under the recently signed Mecca defence pact. This statement follows a previous warning from the defence minister that the agreement could be activated if the Yemen conflict threatened Saudi Arabia.
Why it matters
The shift reflects the delicate diplomatic balancing act Pakistan faces regarding its regional security commitments and the ongoing Yemen conflict.
Pakistan appears to have taken a step back from its strong warning to the Houthis a day earlier, with Islamabad on Thursday saying that no military response under the newly signed Mecca defence pact is currently being discussed. The comments came despite its defence minister warning that the agreement could become operational if the Yemen conflict spilled into Saudi Arabia.“There is no such thing under discussion right now ... When time comes (we) will act under the agreement,” Pakistan foreign ministry spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said on Thursday, referring to the pact signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye last month.The apparent shift comes a day after defence minister Khawaja Asif warned that the pact could become operational if the Yemen conflict spilled into Saudi Arabia.
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