Pakistan Cannot Let Saudi War Pact Drag It Into Yemen

Pakistan has enough wars and enemies to fight at home.

Key points

• Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry earlier informed the media that Pakistan Armed Forces are stationed in the Kingdom, working throughout multiple domains.
• The Saudi-backed Yemeni administration has already rolled out an attack against the Ansar Allah around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait after Houthi attacks expanded deep into the Kingdom earlier.
• Pakistan and Turkey have been drawn into the game thanks to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
• Saudi Arabia is a strategic partner, and there is no question that attacks on the Holy sites should be taken seriously.
• But there is a massive difference between helping Saudis defend themselves and joining an all-out war in Yemen that reeks of propaganda.

Pakistan has enough wars and enemies to fight at home. It should think particularly carefully before playing the Makkah Alliance card against Yemen.

We Pakistanis like our nuclear power status, our global reputation and the US dollars sitting in our foreign exchange reserves. But the liabilities that come with regional defense pacts can hurt us in ways that go far beyond the battlefield.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry earlier informed the media that Pakistan Armed Forces are stationed in the Kingdom, working throughout multiple domains. Houthis Could Force Saudis to Accept Israel. What Are Saudis to Pakistan?

Saudi Arabia is a strategic partner, and there is no question that attacks on the Holy sites should be taken seriously. Pakistan has additionally produced its position clear by backing Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and security. Readers can discuss what our stance should be.

That distinction matters now more than ever. The Saudi-backed Yemeni administration has already rolled out an attack against the Ansar Allah around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait after Houthi attacks expanded deep into the Kingdom earlier.

Pakistan and Turkey have been drawn into the game thanks to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. It treats an armed attack on one member as an attack on all three. This is precisely where Islamabad needs a cold head.

Yes, Pakistan has a genuine interest in Saudi Arabia's stability. Energy security is not some abstract matter. Loans and rollovers are common practice. While the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb are critical routes for energy and trade, and Saudi Arabia remains deeply significant to global oil flows.

In practice, an encounter with the Houthis or a prolonged regional war can hurt Pakistan through higher oil rates, freight costs and blood-curdling inflation. So nothing can automatically justify sending Pakistan's impregnable Armed Forces into Yemen.

Pakistan can protect its interests through defensive deployments, intelligence sharing, air defense, maritime security and logistical backing. It can stand firmly with Saudi Arabia without making Yemen another Pakistani battlefield.

We are already fighting Indian terrorism, economic pressure, the Durand Line border tensions and internal security challenges. We do not need to import another war simply since our ally is fighting one. Pakistan Rejects World Bank's 'Poorest' Claim.

In practice, the Makkah Defence Agreement may prove valuable if it strengthens deterrence. But right now it is easily becoming a liability since every Saudi battlefield is publicly being treated as Pakistan's battlefield.

Supporting Saudi Arabia is one thing. Fighting Saudi Arabia's wars is another.

Pakistan should know the difference before the war makes that decision for us. The views expressed here belong to the author. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

Obtain the latest business news, market insights, and economic updates wherever you prefer. Follow on Google Discover. Follow on Google News Join WhatsApp. See more ProPakistani stories in Google Search and Top Stories.

In short, pakistan Cannot Let Saudi War Pact Drag It Into Yemen is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.