Pakistan finds itself increasingly entangled in the ongoing conflict in Yemen as its close ties with Saudi Arabia deepen amid rising regional tensions. This development follows a missile strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that killed 13 people and injured hundreds on October 14, with a subsequent attack on the same facility killing a Pakistani national. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed Islamabad’s firm support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and security in the wake of these attacks.
The escalation comes as Saudi-backed forces renew their offensive against Iran-aligned Houthi militants in Yemen, who have intensified missile and drone strikes on Saudi territory. After Saudi Arabia extended a $3 billion emergency bailout to Pakistan earlier this year, Islamabad delivered a squadron of fighter jets and pilots to help defend Saudi Arabia from these attacks. Moreover, Pakistan recently reaffirmed its security commitments through the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, a pact that includes Turkey and follows a bilateral agreement signed with Riyadh last year.
Despite its growing military support, Pakistan has long sought to avoid direct involvement in the Yemen conflict. Historically, it has maintained neutrality, exemplified by a unanimous parliamentary resolution in 2015 declining Saudi Arabia’s previous requests for military assistance. Analysts note that Pakistan is now confronted with a difficult balancing act between its economic dependence on Saudi Arabia—including substantial remittances from Pakistani workers in the Gulf and financial support totaling billions of dollars—and the domestic opposition to participation in the war.
“The people of Pakistan have little appetite to fight a war on behalf of the House of Saud, which would, in effect, place them on the side of the United States and against Iran,” said Lahore-based foreign policy commentator Ejaz Haider. Pakistan’s sizeable Shia minority tends to sympathize with Iran, complicating public sentiment toward involvement.
In recent months, Pakistan’s military leadership, particularly Field Marshal Asim Munir, has sought to use diplomatic channels to urge Iran and its allied militias to restrain the Houthis and other Shia groups targeting Saudi Arabia. However, experts argue these diplomatic efforts have failed, with Umer Karim, a researcher on Pakistan-Saudi relations, stating, “Pakistan and Iran are now arrayed against each other in Yemen.”
The broader military role Pakistan will play remains unclear. The Saudi-led coalition recently reported deploying 100 fighter jets in air operations against the Houthis, but Islamabad has neither confirmed nor denied whether Pakistani pilots were involved. A source close to Pakistani officials acknowledged the country had “provided support” without specifying its nature.
Pakistan’s armed forces are among the largest in the region, with over 660,000 personnel and a fleet of 400 fighter and ground-attack aircraft, including domestically produced JF-17s and U.S.-supplied F-16s. The military is experienced from sustained counter-insurgency efforts and recent clashes with India but faces ongoing internal security challenges, with insurgent attacks and border violence increasing.
The current government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has a relatively fragile political base and depends heavily on military backing. Unlike in 2015, there appears to be no parliamentary debate on the defense agreements underpinning Pakistan’s role in the conflict, with both pacts yet to be publicly disclosed or submitted for legislative approval.
Pakistan’s economic vulnerabilities further limit its options. Beyond the initial bailout, Saudi Arabia extended a three-year deposit of $5 billion with Pakistan’s central bank, together comprising nearly 40% of Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves. Remittances from Pakistani expatriates in the Gulf accounted for approximately $9.7 billion last year, highlighting the country’s financial reliance on Riyadh.
Observers warn that Islamabad’s increasing military commitments risk undermining its position as a mediator between Tehran and Riyadh, potentially escalating domestic discontent and complicating Pakistan’s regional diplomacy amid the protracted Yemen conflict.