ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has conveyed to Iran that any Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia would be viewed as an attack on Pakistan, reflecting Islamabad’s growing concern over rising regional tensions following recent missile strikes on the Kingdom.
A senior Pakistani official said the country’s top civilian and military leadership had delivered the message directly to Iranian authorities, stressing that attacks targeting Saudi Arabia constitute a “red line” for Pakistan.
The warning comes after Houthi forces launched missile strikes on Saudi Arabia, accusing the Kingdom of bombing an airport under their control.
The exchange marked the first major cross-border incident since a four-year truce, although the violence has so far remained limited.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defence agreement last year, under which both countries pledged to regard any aggression against one as an attack on both. The agreement has taken on greater significance amid the current security situation in the region.
The officials familiar with the matter said Pakistan had not expected tensions to escalate so rapidly. Security analysts noted that Pakistani troops stationed near the Saudi-Yemen border could face increased risks if hostilities intensify.
Islamabad is also concerned that any expansion of the conflict could threaten shipping through the Red Sea, a vital trade route for Pakistan’s imports and exports.
Despite the heightened tensions, Pakistani officials said the government remains committed to its diplomatic efforts aimed at easing the broader conflict involving the United States and Iran. Analysts believe Pakistan’s mediation efforts are driven not only by regional stability but also by the need to safeguard critical energy supply routes disrupted by recent unrest around the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan relies heavily on Middle Eastern countries for oil and gas imports, and previous disruptions to maritime trade forced the government to introduce emergency measures, including reduced business hours, to conserve fuel supplies.
Officials said Islamabad continues to support diplomatic engagement but emphasised that its security commitments to Saudi Arabia remain firm. One official said Pakistan has invested significant effort in mediation and intends to keep the process alive, while another source maintained that Pakistan would stand by Saudi Arabia if the Kingdom sought its support.
