Pakistan will defend Saudi Arabia in any conflict, says Khawaja Asif

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has declared that Pakistan will defend Saudi Arabia in any conflict, emphasizing Islamabad's unwavering commitment to safeguarding the kingdom's security amidst escalating tensions involving Yemen's Houthi rebels. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Asif asserted, "We are there to help Saudi Arabia in any conflict, whether it is coming from the Houthis or a country or any other outfit that threatens Saudi Arabia's security.

We will be there to defend them." This statement follows a surge in fighting between the Houthis and the Yemeni government, with Riyadh actively engaging in the conflict. The Houthis have imposed a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia and attacked ships in the Red Sea, while both sides have accused each other of initiating attacks.

Pakistan has recently reaffirmed its security commitments to Saudi Arabia under bilateral and multilateral defence arrangements. In September, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, stated that Pakistan would "go to any extent" to defend Saudi Arabia, describing the nation's security as "unconditional."

Asif had previously pledged that Pakistan would support Saudi Arabia "practically and diplomatically" against the Houthis if the situation became more severe. In his latest remarks, Asif stated that there was "absolutely no doubt" that the Houthis were engaging in aggression against Saudi Arabia. He emphasized that Pakistan was bound by an arrangement to protect the kingdom and that "whatever means are available at our disposal will be available to Saudi Arabia as well."

Asif's comments appear to reference Pakistan's Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) with Saudi Arabia, signed in September 2025. Under this pact, an attack on either country is considered an act of aggression against both parties. Additionally, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are members of the Makkah Defence Alliance with Türkiye, which came into effect on August 7.

The alliance stipulates that an attack on one member is to be treated as an attack on all. The military leaders of the three countries met in Riyadh recently and expressed a mutual commitment to "immediately translating" their defense alliance commitments into effective military cooperation. Asif described the Houthis as "enemies of Saudi Arabia," asserting that "any enemy of Saudi Arabia is an enemy of Pakistan."

He also noted that Iran does not recognize the Houthis as its proxies, stating that "some of these proxies have become rogue. I don't have to go into history, I can give you multiple examples of that," suggesting that proxy groups launched by countries can deviate from their intended roles and become "rogue" entities.