Pakistan has described the situation around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait as “exceptionally serious”, calling for dialogue and diplomacy as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia intensify.
Islamabad has also reaffirmed its defence commitments to Saudi Arabia, with Pakistan’s military saying the country would go “to any extent” to defend the Kingdom against aggression.
At a Foreign Office briefing on Thursday, 17 September, Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said Islamabad was closely following the evolving situation in the Middle East, including continued Houthi attacks.
“The situation in the Bab el-Mandeb is exceptionally serious and a matter of concern, and we need to bring peace to the entire region,” he said.
Islamabad said the Houthis must stop their attacks, while stressing that efforts should focus on restoring peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy rather than coercive measures.
The strategic waterway connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is a major route for international maritime trade and energy supplies.
Pakistan has also been pursuing diplomatic efforts to contain the wider regional escalation.
The diplomatic position comes alongside an explicit defence commitment to Riyadh.
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations, said in an interview with Arab News that Pakistan “fully stands with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, both diplomatically and physically”.
“We will go to any extent” to ensure Saudi Arabia’s security and protect the country’s holy sites in Mecca and Madina, he said, describing Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi security as “unconditional”.
The military’s media wing said Pakistan was already present in Saudi Arabia to help protect the Kingdom and would continue to defend it against aggression.
The remarks came after Saudi Arabia reported an attempted Houthi drone attack towards restricted airspace around Mecca. The Houthis rejected Riyadh’s account.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office said Islamabad remained concerned about attacks on the Kingdom’s East-West Pipeline and their wider implications for regional peace, maritime navigation and global energy supplies.
Pakistan’s commitments come under two defence agreements.
The Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was signed in September 2025. The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye was signed on 7 August.
Islamabad says it remains committed, in intent and spirit, to implementing both agreements.
However, it has declined to disclose when, how or where force could be used, citing operational confidentiality, though this week Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the three countries are working out the framework under those details will be clarified.
Pakistan has also described the Mecca agreement as defensive in nature, saying it is not directed against any country and does not constitute a new bloc.
For Islamabad, the immediate focus remains preventing further escalation while maintaining its defence commitments to Riyadh.
Pakistan says the path forward lies in dialogue and diplomacy, even as the security situation around the Bab el-Mandeb continues to deteriorate.
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