Key Points
- Khawaja Asif reaffirms Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks.
- Minister says Field Marshal Asim Munir is spearheading defence agreements with the Kingdom.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Islamabad stood with Saudi Arabia “like a rock” as Yemen’s Houthi rebels continued attacks on the Kingdom’s civilian infrastructure.
Speaking at a news conference in his hometown of Sialkot, Asif reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Riyadh and said Islamabad was signing defence agreements with the Kingdom one after another.
“Even at this time, when there are attacks taking place against Saudi Arabia, we are standing with Saudi Arabia like a rock,” he said.
“I do not want to go into details. We are signing defence agreements one after the other.”
Asif said the military played a leading role in the defence arrangements with Saudi Arabia, crediting Field Marshal Asim Munir with spearheading the initiative.
“Shehbaz Sharif is the prime minister, and he has a role in it, no doubt,” Asif said. “But the entire initiative is being spearheaded by the field marshal.”
Pakistan has called for an immediate halt to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, as security concerns grow over threats to the Kingdom’s energy and aviation facilities.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye Alliance
Pakistan signed a bilateral defence agreement with Saudi Arabia in September 2025. In August 2026, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, under which an attack on any one of the three countries is to be considered an attack against all three.
Pakistan has said the arrangement remains open to other countries that share its objectives, describing its purpose as promoting regional peace, security and stability.
The agreements reflect growing defence cooperation between Islamabad and Riyadh, which have maintained close political, economic and security ties.
Background to Houthi Conflict
The Houthi terrorists have been fighting Yemen’s internationally recognised government since September 2014, when its fighters seized the capital, Sanaa.
The latest attacks on Saudi infrastructure have raised concerns over the security of critical facilities, including those linked to energy supplies and aviation.
Pakistan’s latest statement underscores its support for the Kingdom as the two countries deepen their defence cooperation.
Pakistan’s longstanding ties with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have presented its trilateral defence arrangement as a framework for collective security and regional stability.
