Pakistan Pledges to Honor Security Pact If Saudi Arabia Attacked - Bloomberg.com

**Pakistan Vows to Uphold Defence Pact with Saudi Arabia Amid Houthi Strikes**

Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure came under heavy fire on Wednesday when Yemen‑based Houthi rebels launched a series of missile and drone attacks that ignited fires at the Ras Tanura and Khurais facilities and injured at least 73 workers. The assaults, which the Saudi government blamed on Iranian‑backed militias, prompted swift condemnations from regional capitals, including New Delhi, where the Ministry of External Affairs described the attacks as “unacceptable acts of aggression” and called for a collective response to safeguard global energy supplies.

Within hours of the strikes, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement affirming “unwavering solidarity” with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Citing the 2015 Pakistan‑Saudi defence cooperation agreement, the statement pledged that Islamabad would honor its security commitments should Riyadh face a direct military assault. A senior Pakistani diplomat added that the pact encompasses intelligence sharing, logistical support and, if required, the deployment of Pakistani forces to assist Saudi defence operations, underscoring the depth of the long‑standing strategic partnership between the two nations.

Analysts note that Pakistan’s pledge comes at a time of heightened tension in the Gulf, where Iran‑Saudi rivalry and the protracted conflict in Yemen are reshaping security calculations. While the commitment is largely symbolic, it signals Islamabad’s willingness to align more closely with Saudi Arabia, potentially straining its already delicate relationship with India, which has warned against any escalation that could destabilise the broader region. Observers also caution that any Pakistani involvement would likely be limited to non‑combat roles, given Islamabad’s own internal security challenges and the complexities of direct engagement in a conflict that pits Saudi forces against Iranian‑aligned militants.