Pakistan is expected to assume a range of defensive responsibilities for Saudi Arabia as Riyadh intensifies its military campaign against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Analysts suggest that while Pakistani forces are unlikely to engage directly in ground combat operations planned by Saudi Arabia and allied Yemeni factions, their deployment will enable Saudi troops to concentrate on front-line battles expected to involve substantial Yemeni combatants on both sides.

According to Andreas Krieg, an associate professor of defense studies at King’s College London, Pakistan’s contribution will primarily focus on air and missile defense, radar and early warning systems, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities, counter-drone measures, electronic warfare, and command-and-control support. Pakistani forces could also assist with maintenance, munitions logistics, training, operational planning, and potentially provide additional aircraft and unmanned systems for defensive patrols and surveillance missions.

The strategic significance of Pakistani involvement extends to maritime and intelligence roles, particularly around the Red Sea and Saudi Arabia’s southern approaches. Krieg emphasized the importance of securing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—a key maritime chokepoint between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa that has become increasingly contested amid the conflict.

Dave Des Roches, a retired Pentagon official and senior fellow at the Gulf International Forum, noted that Saudi Arabia reportedly seeks Pakistani participation across the full spectrum of military operations. However, he cautioned that Pakistan is unlikely to accept such an expansive role, with the precise scope and deployment areas subject to ongoing negotiations between Riyadh and Islamabad.

Meanwhile, Saudi political scientist Nawaf Obaid reported that specialized Pakistani military units might already be providing intelligence and command-and-control support within the conflict zone. Writing in late September, Obaid claimed that Saudi and Pakistani joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) teams were embedded with major Yemeni government forces in the north. These units are reportedly engaged in reestablishing critical communication links between government ground forces and the Saudi-led joint command’s strike system, which had been disrupted by Iranian Revolutionary Guards advisers supporting Houthi forces.

This command system has been instrumental in coordinating sustained Saudi aerial operations, including drone and air strikes aimed at dismantling the Houthi military command and their amassed ground units. Yemeni military officials have reported that several Iranian advisers have been killed in such government-led air strikes.

Islamabad has maintained a cautious public stance regarding the extent of Pakistan’s involvement, with officials declining to comment on operational details. However, they have privately indicated that their silence should not be interpreted as an absence of action. The evolving partnership underscores a broader regional alignment as Saudi Arabia seeks to bolster its defense and offensive capabilities against the entrenched Houthi insurgency in Yemen.