The Houthi escalation has created the first major stress test for the new Pakistan-Saudi-Turkey defence alliance under the Mecca Pact.
Pakistan appears to be scrambling to reassure Saudi Arabia after walking back its initial tough stance on military action against the Houthis. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif dialed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday and reiterated Islamabad’s “strongest condemnation” of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, in what appears to be a diplomatic damage-control effort after questions emerged over whether Pakistan would actually honour its new defence commitments if Riyadh came under attack.
The outreach came after Islamabad clarified that its Makkah defence pact with Saudi Arabia did not automatically mean Pakistani military action against the Houthis. The clarification appeared to temper Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s earlier suggestion that the agreement could be activated if attacks on Saudi Arabia continued.
Shehbaz Reaffirms Support To Riyadh
Sharif said he had spoken to Mohammed bin Salman and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia.
“I reiterated Pakistan’s strongest condemnation of the recent Houthi attacks targeting civilian and economic infrastructure in the Kingdom, and conveyed our complete solidarity with the Saudi leadership and our Saudi brothers and sisters,” Sharif said in a post on X.
He said the attacks threatened regional peace and stability and could have serious consequences for the global economy and energy security.
Sharif also praised the Crown Prince’s “wise and sagacious leadership” during the crisis. He said he, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar would continue efforts to defuse tensions and promote peace and stability in the region.
According to Sharif’s office, Mohammed bin Salman appreciated Pakistan’s “steadfast support” for Saudi Arabia and its efforts towards regional peace and stability.
The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact and said they looked forward to meeting soon. Sharif also conveyed his regards to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
#Statement | The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Türkiye, the State of Qatar, and the Arab Republic of Egypt welcome the decision of the Government of the United Kingdom to ban the import of goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to introduce restrictions on services linked to such settlements, and express the hope that this decision will help mobilize the international community to take similar actions in line with international law and hold accountable settlement organizations and individuals engaged in illegal settlement activities.
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) September 9, 2026
From ‘No Ambiguity’ To No Military Action
The call came against the backdrop of questions over Pakistan’s security commitments to Saudi Arabia following the signing of the Makkah pact.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey was signed on August 7, 2026. It expanded an earlier Pakistan-Saudi Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed on September 17, 2025, by adding Turkey.
Under the pact, an armed attack against any one of the three countries is to be treated as an attack against all. It also provides for enhanced defence cooperation and a joint secretariat in Riyadh, initially chaired by Pakistan for three years.
Last week, Asif said there should be “no ambiguity” over the pact if an attack on a member country or a spillover from Yemen reached Saudi territory. “If there is unprovoked aggression, or a spillover of whatever is happening in Yemen into Saudi Arabia, definitely the Mecca agreement will become operational,” he had said.
He also hinted at possible airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen.
However, Pakistan’s Foreign Office clarified the following day that no military response under the pact was being discussed and Islamabad had no immediate plans to expand the alliance. The FO stressed that the agreement was defensive and aimed at deterrence.
The rapid shift has exposed a gap between the language of collective defence and Pakistan’s willingness to enter direct combat.
Why Riyadh May Be Watching Closely
The Houthi escalation has created the first major stress test for the new Pakistan-Saudi-Turkey defence alliance. Pakistan is already dealing with severe economic stress and internal security challenges and wants to avoid being drawn into a new Middle East conflict, particularly against an Iran-linked group.
The Houthis have intensified attacks on Saudi civilian and energy infrastructure since early September, while fighting has also intensified between Houthi forces and Saudi-backed government forces in Yemen.
Saudi-backed forces attacked Houthi positions in Mokha, Dhubab and other parts of Taiz province on Sunday, while the Houthis fired towards neighbouring Saudi Arabia.
The latest escalation is the most serious since a UN-brokered truce halted major fighting in 2022. More than 82,000 people have reportedly been displaced since the beginning of September.
The fighting has also raised concerns over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial maritime chokepoint, while commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains under pressure amid the US-Iran conflict.
Riyadh has also sought US support, but US President Donald Trump has declined direct US military action against the Houthis.
