Pakistan’s Saudi Commitment Must Not Become a Gateway to War

Pakistan should honor its defense commitments to Saudi Arabia through strictly defensive cooperation and protection of maritime commerce, while avoiding offensive military action against the Houthis that could drag Islamabad into a wider Middle Eastern conflict, alienate Iran, and deepen its domestic and strategic vulnerabilities.

However, the ongoing conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis has once again placed Pakistan in a difficult position. Nonetheless, Islamabad has not officially declared any active assistance to Saudi Arabia against the Houthi government. Any such declaration or indication by the government of Pakistan would signal a departure from prudent diplomacy, entangling the country directly in a conflict involving Iran, the Gulf states, the USA, Israel, and the future of the world’s most sensitive maritime trade routes and corridors.

Pakistan’s New Strategic Dilemma

Yemen’s Houthis are no longer just an insurgent group. They control most of northern Yemen, including the country’s capital, Sana’a, and possess drones, missiles, and maritime-strike capabilities. Reports of their attempt to build ballistic missiles using Anthropic AI demonstrate their active pursuit of modern advanced weapons. The Houthis’ confrontation with Israel and their attack on commercial vessels have projected them into the wider Middle Eastern conflict. Despite an international strategic divide over their actions, much of the Muslim world views them as supporting Palestinians and resistance to Israeli genocide in Gaza.

The Strategic Stakes of........

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