Islambad: The picture regarding Pakistan’s role in the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia is not completely clear yet. Pakistan said on September 10 that there were no immediate discussions on any military action under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in response to the Houthi attacks, although it reiterated its commitment to the agreement.
At the same time, recent reports have claimed that Saudi Arabia is exploring possibilities of intelligence cooperation with Israel to deal with Houthi activities. According to these reports, this contact is being made through the American Central Command.
What is the Mecca Defence Agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey had extended the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in August 2026. The agreement provides for collective defence in the event of an armed attack on any member country. However, Pakistan has clarified after the recent Houthi attacks that no immediate military response has been discussed under the agreement.
Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had earlier said that the agreement could be activated in the event of continued attacks on Saudi Arabia or the spillover of the Yemen conflict into Saudi territory. However, this does not directly confirm the deployment of Pakistani troops in Yemen.
Has Pakistan refused to send troops to Yemen?
According to current reports, Pakistan has not announced the launch of an immediate direct military operation in Yemen against the Houthis. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has said that at present no military response has been discussed under the agreement. Therefore, it is more accurate to say that Pakistan’s direct military involvement has not been decided at this time, rather than that it has permanently refused all military assistance.
Then why are Saudi Arabia’s talks related to Israel?
Saudi Arabia does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel. Despite this, some reports claim that Riyadh has sought Israeli assistance with intelligence related to Houthi military deployments and potential operations. According to reports, the American CENTCOM has played a role in this contact.
Reports also said that potential cooperation could be limited mainly to intelligence, surveillance and information on Houthi military activities. This should not be seen as the establishment of a formal military alliance or diplomatic relations between Saudi and Israel.
Why did Houthi attacks increase Saudi Arabia’s troubles?
The Houthis have launched missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia in recent days. Additionally, their activities in Yemen’s Red Sea coast and Bab al-Mandeb region have also raised security concerns for maritime trade and Saudi energy exports.
Regarding drones near Mecca, Saudi Arabia also recently claimed that its air defense destroyed a Houthi drone before it could enter the city’s restricted airspace. The Houthis have denied targeting Mecca.
What are the options before Saudi Arabia now?
Saudi Arabia currently has many avenues of diplomatic, intelligence and defense cooperation. Apart from the new defence framework built with Pakistan and Turkey, Riyadh is also taking cooperation from America and other western countries. Meanwhile, reports of possible intelligence cooperation with Israel have emerged. However, the full nature and scope of these contacts is not publicly clear.
