Amid rising tensions and geopolitical upheavals in West Asia, Pakistan has openly announced all possible military assistance to Saudi Arabia under the new defense pact (Makkah Pact). After this tripartite agreement came to the fore, questions started to arise whether Pakistan will now wage a direct war against Iran? However, it is clear from Pakistan’s official statements that Pakistan is taking a very tough stance in this matter and has no intention of going to war with Iran directly.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif recently made it clear during his visit to Rome that Pakistan will use all its available military resources to protect Saudi Arabia if there is any external attack. Referring to the continuous missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, he said any enemy of Saudi Arabia is an enemy of Pakistan.

Pakistan’s response

However, when asked if the Pakistani military was directly involved in any airstrikes or military operations against Iran-backed targets in Yemen, he refrained from confirming it directly, saying Pakistan was committed to providing its defensive capabilities under the agreement. That is, the position regarding the direct military involvement of the Pakistan Army in Yemen or the regional conflict has not yet been clarified.

Makkah Agreement: What are its main points?

Tripartite Security Agreement: This entire incident has come to light in the context of the ‘Makkah Joint Defense Agreement’ signed between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on August 7 in Makkah.

Principle of Collective Security: Under this agreement any attack on any one of the three countries will be considered as a joint attack on the three countries. However, the three countries have repeatedly clarified that the alliance is purely ‘defensive’ and not for aggressive action against any other country.

Composition of Secretariat: A special secretariat is being prepared in Saudi Arabia to implement this new defense structure at the ground level and establish strategic coordination.

Aggression and strategic concerns of the Houthi rebels

Khawaja Asif said Houthi rebels have seized the port city of Mokha and several strategic islands off Yemen’s Red Sea coast, deepening the crisis on the Bab-al-Mandeb Strait, which is vital for global trade. The need to activate this tripartite military agreement has been felt after the Houthis have continuously targeted Saudi oil installations and ships.

Will Pakistan attack Iran too?

Pakistan is avoiding a direct attack on Iran for several reasons.

Protective Contract: The Makkah Pact is primarily a defensive alliance, aimed at protecting Riyadh’s territorial integrity, and not aggressively attacking any other country.

Focus on proxy attacks: Pakistan’s announcement of military aid appears to be mainly limited to the scope of defending Saudi Arabia from drone and missile attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

Balancing Diplomacy with Iran: Pakistan and Iran have traditionally had neighborly and diplomatic relations. On the one hand, Pakistan is assuring full security to Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, it also wants to keep the communication channels completely open with Tehran, so that it avoids getting directly involved in any major war in West Asia.

In short, this new defense pact by Pakistan is an attempt to become a strong shield for Saudi Arabia’s borders and its internal security, but it does not mean that Pakistan is going to jump into a direct and massive war against Iran.

Meeting of Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia

Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif’s statement came days after a meeting of the military chiefs of Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia in Riyadh to discuss the response to the Houthi attack. The defense minister said the Houthis have stepped up missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and increased their control over Yemen’s Red Sea coast.

The Houthis have captured several islands

Houthi rebels have recently captured the strategically important port city of Mokha and several Red Sea islands. This increased their access to the Bab-al-Mandeb Strait, a sea route through which about 12% of the world’s trade is carried. They, along with their allied forces in Iraq, also attacked Saudi oil facilities and tried to prevent Saudi tankers from using the Straits.

Preliminary test for connection

Fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis has posed an early test for this alliance. A full draft of the agreement has not yet been released, and its command and operational structures are still being developed. Defense Minister Asif said that the three countries are setting up a secretariat and working out the outline of the alliance. He said other countries have expressed interest in joining, but there are no immediate plans to expand the alliance.

Asif said the coalition reflects its members’ belief that existing security arrangements are failing to protect the Gulf states as the Iran-related conflict spreads across the region. He said, ‘Once you start a struggle, you cannot control the outcome of that struggle. You cannot control the direction of that conflict’.

Emphasis on dialogue to end conflict

Despite Pakistan’s willingness to support Saudi Arabia militarily, Asif said Islamabad was also pushing for talks to end the broader conflict involving Iran and supported reviving the negotiated agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program.

Earlier this year, Pakistan tried to position itself as a mediator, working with other countries in the region to end the conflict. Although indirect talks between the US and Iran have resumed through mediators, Asif did not provide any details about Pakistan’s involvement in the latest efforts.

In April, Pakistan hosted direct talks between Iran and the United States in Islamabad. The two sides agreed to an interim agreement in June and pledged to try to reach a final agreement within 60 days, but the deadline was missed after hostilities resumed.

Recently, top diplomats from Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia held a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The meeting discussed the implementation of the new defense pact and mutual coordination to respond to attacks in Makkah and other places in Saudi Arabia.