Pakistan plays down Yemen war role

Pakistan on Thursday sought to temper growing speculation about the possible activation of the newly-formed Makkah Defence Alliance, saying there was currently no discussion about military action despite the intensifying conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi rebels. The cautious position came as the Foreign Office sought to draw a distinction between the political commitment underpinning the trilateral defence pact and its eventual operationalisation, amid reports that Saudi Arabia had sought Pakistan's assistance following Houthi attacks on the Kingdom. Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia were currently focused on consolidating the alliance before putting in place mechanisms that would determine how it would function. "The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement is an umbrella agreement," the spokesperson said at his first weekly media briefing. "Under this agreement, we will have to establish subsequent mechanisms to move forward." He said the pact was "purely for defensive purposes" and aimed primarily at strengthening regional peace and stability. His comments came days after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the agreement could be activated if the conflict involving the Houthis spilled over and threatened Saudi Arabia. The defence minister's remarks had fuelled speculation that Pakistan could be drawn militarily into the escalating confrontation. The Foreign Office, however, stopped short of suggesting that such a step was imminent. Asked directly whether Pakistan was considering military action against Houthi positions in Yemen, Sajjad described the situation as hypothetical. "Pakistan will act upon this agreement in terms of its stipulations. But, as of now, there is no discussion of this kind." Pakistan has separately condemned Houthi attacks on civilian and economic sites in Saudi Arabia, including Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, reaffirming its "unwavering support" for the Kingdom's sovereignty, territorial integrity and security. The issue has acquired greater significance following the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement by Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia last month. The pact is the most consequential outcome so far of the three countries' efforts to institutionalise their defence and strategic cooperation. The agreement effectively provides a framework for collective defence, although officials have stressed that its precise mechanisms and command structures still need to be developed. The spokesperson said the three countries were holding consultations at different levels and remained in close contact. At the same time, he ruled out any immediate expansion of the alliance. "Expansion of the Makkah Agreement is not on the cards because, first, they have to kind of solidify their own organization." The clarification is significant given recent speculation about possible expansion of the grouping to include countries such as Egypt and Algeria, as well as suggestions that Iran could eventually become part of the arrangement. The spokesperson said the alliance would eventually remain open to countries that shared similar views, threat perceptions and security requirements, but stressed that expansion was not currently under discussion. The spokesperson also sought to lower expectations about the immediate operationalisation of the pact. He said Pakistan already had bilateral defence cooperation with Saudi Arabia, under which Pakistani personnel were deployed in the kingdom for training and logistical purposes. The Makkah agreement, he added, would require the establishment of institutional mechanisms before it could become fully operational. The cautious diplomatic messaging comes against the backdrop of Pakistan's broader effort to maintain close relations with Saudi Arabia while avoiding direct involvement in another regional conflict. Islamabad has consistently advocated dialogue and diplomacy to resolve regional disputes, while its strategic relationship with Riyadh has deepened considerably in recent years. Sajjad said Pakistan also wanted peace and stability in Yemen and would continue supporting international efforts aimed at ending the conflict. The spokesperson stressed that Afghanistan itself was not regarded as an enemy state. "Afghanistan is our neighbour, and we have had hundreds of years of relationships, thousands of years of civilizational ties, and it is not an enemy state for Pakistan," he said. He said the principal obstacle to normal relations was terrorism. "The only difficulty is, the current regime is not understanding the sensitivities of Pakistan, which relate to terrorism," Khan said. Pakistan, he added, wanted to see a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and was prepared to rebuild friendly relations if militant attacks from Afghan territory declined. The spokesperson also defended Pakistan's long-standing support for Afghanistan, pointing to scholarships for Afghan students as well as Pakistani assistance in building roads, bridges and hospitals in Afghanistan.