Shehbaz Sharif reaffirms support for Saudi Arabia after Houthi attacks

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia on October 9 and reaffirmed his country’s commitments under their joint defence agreement.

In a statement on X, Sharif referred to attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport. He expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia, supported its right to self-defence and called on the Houthis to stop their attacks immediately.

Sharif linked Pakistan’s position to the Makkah Defence Alliance and recent decisions by its political and defence committee. Türkiye is also a party to the agreement, signed on August 7. The pact provides for collective deterrence and treating an attack on one member as an attack on all.

Dawn reported that the three countries agreed at an emergency meeting in Riyadh on October 5 to accelerate the deployment of military forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said at the time that Pakistan and Türkiye had a presence in the theatre, but only Saudi troops were involved in combat operations.

The prime minister’s statement came amid renewed fighting in Yemen. The Houthis claimed attacks on Saudi airports, while the Saudi-led coalition reported destroying a missile launcher. The opposing sides also gave conflicting accounts of changes on the ground.