Defense Pact Activation Warning
Pakistan warns mutual defense agreement could activate amid escalating Houthi threats near Makkah.
Anonymous
Key Points
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Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, directly urged Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to use Tehran’s influence to stop Houthi attacks on Saudi oil and economic infrastructure. Iranian officials, however, maintain that Tehran does not interfere in Yemeni affairs and describe the Houthis as independent actors pursuing their own interests.
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Pakistan and Türkiye have ruled out combat operations in Yemen, while the United States and United Kingdom reportedly rejected Saudi requests for airstrikes against Houthi positions. Saudi Arabia has also reportedly sought intelligence assistance from Israel, despite not recognizing Israel as an independent state.
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The Houthi advance has implications beyond shipping: control of positions near Bab al-Mandab could heighten security and economic risks for Egypt, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Eritrea, while potentially aggravating conflicts in Somalia and Sudan. Mayyun Island also divides a waterway used by international shipping.
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The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement had already moved into an institutional phase before the latest escalation, with its first committee meeting held in Istanbul on Aug. 31, attended by senior foreign, defence and military officials from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
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Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia was “operational” and that some Pakistani forces had already been deployed, while still emphasizing that the Houthi conflict should be addressed through dialogue rather than coercion.
Pakistan signaled it could invoke a joint defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey as Houthi forces tightened control of critical Red Sea chokepoints. Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said the circumstances now warrant implementing the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, which treats an attack on any signatory as an attack on all three countries news24online.
The warning followed Saudi Arabia's report of intercepting a second Houthi drone near Makkah, while Houthi forces seized multiple strategic islands in the Bab al-Mandab Strait—a waterway handling roughly 12% of global trade. Pakistan described the situation as exceptionally serious, with Iranian officials insisting they do not direct Houthi operations thehindu.
Houthis Seize Red Sea Strategic Positions
Between September 10 and 16, Houthi forces captured the port city of Mocha, Mayyun Island, and the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. These positions place the Iran-aligned group directly astride one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Saudi air defenses destroyed a Houthi drone south of Taif on September 15, marking the second attempted strike near the holy city theaustralian.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree denied targeting Makkah, stating his group focuses exclusively on Saudi oil and military infrastructure. However, the group's new territorial control gives it unprecedented reach over international commerce. The strait normally carries over 8 million barrels of oil daily ntnews.
Pakistan and Turkey Rule Out Direct Combat
Despite pledging strong support, Pakistan and Turkey have ruled out ground operations or airstrikes in Yemen. Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir directly urged Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to use Tehran's influence to halt Houthi attacks on Saudi targets. Iranian officials maintain that they do not interfere in Yemeni affairs thehindu.
The United States and United Kingdom reportedly rejected Saudi requests for direct airstrikes against Houthi positions. Saudi Arabia has also sought intelligence assistance from Israel, despite not formally recognizing the country as independent. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for restraint and diplomacy rather than military escalation news24online.
Global Trade and Energy Markets at Risk
Control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait threatens roughly 12% of global maritime trade and some 8 million barrels of crude oil per day. Global oil prices surged past $100 per barrel following the Red Sea disruptions and damaged Saudi pipeline infrastructure. The chokepoint affects shipping to Egypt, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, with over 94,000 Yemenis already displaced ntnews.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement held its first committee meeting in Istanbul on August 31, with senior officials from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey in attendance. Pakistan's Foreign Office confirmed that a separate Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia was operational and that Pakistani forces had already been deployed to the region israelnationalnews.
U.S. Engagement and Broader Diplomatic Shifts
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States is in talks with the Houthi movement, claiming the group would like to reach a deal. Reports of U.S.-Houthi contacts in Oman could reshape the regional balance and complicate Pakistan's efforts to coordinate with allies. Pakistan's Defense Minister said Iran was unlikely to open another regional front israelnationalnews.
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