Pakistan Launches Damage Control With Saudi Arabia After Backing Away From Houthi Fight

Pakistan is facing a difficult diplomatic balancing act as tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels put its relations with Riyadh and Tehran under fresh pressure. Islamabad has spent much of the year trying to maintain ties with both sides, including supporting backchannel diplomatic efforts involving the United States and Iran while simultaneously strengthening its defence partnership with Saudi Arabia.

The latest fighting has made that balancing strategy increasingly difficult. Pakistan has moved quickly to reassure Riyadh after comments from Islamabad appeared to suggest that its recent defence commitments with Saudi Arabia would not automatically require Pakistani forces to participate in military operations against the Houthis.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the weekend and reaffirmed Pakistan's support for the Kingdom. According to Pakistan's Prime Minister's Office, Sharif strongly condemned the Houthi attacks and expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia. He also warned that continued attacks could threaten regional stability and create further disruptions to global energy supplies.

The conversation came amid questions over Pakistan's obligations under its growing defence relationship with Saudi Arabia. A recently signed security arrangement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey states that an armed attack against one member should be treated as an attack against all. The agreement has therefore raised questions about how Islamabad would respond if Saudi Arabia faced a sustained military threat from the Houthis.

Those questions became more prominent after Pakistan indicated that the agreement did not necessarily mean its military would be deployed against the Yemeni group. The position appeared to create uncertainty among the countries involved and prompted Islamabad to step up its diplomatic engagement with Riyadh.

The latest outreach also followed an attack that temporarily disrupted Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline, a strategically important route of around 1,200 kilometres that allows Saudi crude to reach the Red Sea without relying on the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway has already faced severe disruption because of the wider confrontation involving Iran and the United States.

Saudi authorities have also reported Houthi attacks involving missiles and drones. One projectile reportedly caused injuries and damaged several buildings, including a mosque. The repeated targeting of civilian and economic infrastructure has increased concerns about the potential impact of the conflict on Saudi Arabia's security as well as international energy markets.

The situation presents a particularly sensitive challenge. Islamabad has strong defence and economic interests in the Gulf, with cooperation with countries such as Saudi Arabia playing an increasingly important role in its efforts to attract investment and strengthen its fragile economy. At the same time, Pakistan shares a border with Iran and has an interest in maintaining stable relations with Tehran.

Pakistan also depends on energy supplies transported through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. A prolonged disruption along either route could create additional economic difficulties for Islamabad. Direct involvement in the conflict could also expose Pakistani personnel and infrastructure to greater security risks. Pakistani military personnel are already stationed close to the Saudi-Yemen border, making any escalation between Saudi forces and the Houthis particularly sensitive for Islamabad. A deeper military role could potentially draw Pakistan into a wider regional confrontation at a time when the country is already dealing with significant economic and security challenges.

Sharif's latest conversation with the Saudi Crown Prince appears to be part of an effort to prevent disagreements over the Houthi issue from damaging the broader Pakistan-Saudi relationship. The Pakistani prime minister also indicated that he, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar would continue diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions and supporting peace in the region.

Islamabad now faces the difficult task of reassuring Riyadh about its security commitments without unnecessarily damaging its relationship with Tehran. For Pakistan, maintaining that delicate balance could become increasingly challenging if the conflict involving Saudi Arabia, the Houthis, Iran and the wider region continues to escalate.

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