Pakistan’s hard choice on Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen
Pakistan is navigating a delicate relationship with Saudi Arabia amid its war in Yemen. The country has been urged to support the Saudi-led coalition, but has also maintained ties with Iran, which backs the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has met with Saudi officials to discuss defense cooperation. The country's stance has been described as 'dual messaging' to both Iran and Saudi Arabia.
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- ✓ Pakistan has the fifth largest population in the world with 243.4 million people.
- ✓ Pakistan shares borders with India, Iran, Afghanistan, and China.
- ✓ Saudi Arabia spends tens of billions of dollars on defense every year.
- ✓ Despite its spending, Saudi Arabia is struggling to protect key assets from Houthi attacks.
What changed
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently met with the secretary-general of the Makkah Alliance, which is a defense cooperation initiative led by Saudi Arabia.
Live updates
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Pakistan faces pressure over Saudi Arabia's Yemen war
Pakistan is navigating a delicate relationship with Saudi Arabia amid its war in Yemen. The country has been urged to support the Saudi-led coalition, but has also maintained ties with Iran, which backs the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has met with Saudi officials to discuss defense cooperation. The country's stance has been described as 'dual messaging' to both Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Why it matters
The conflict in Yemen has been ongoing since 2015, with Saudi Arabia leading a coalition of Arab states in a military intervention against the Houthi rebels. Pakistan has historically maintained good relations with both Saudi Arabia and Iran, but its stance on the Yemen conflict has been cautious. The country's military has also provided support to Saudi Arabia in the past.
What is confirmed
- Pakistan has the fifth largest population in the world with 243.4 million people.
- Pakistan shares borders with India, Iran, Afghanistan, and China.
- Saudi Arabia spends tens of billions of dollars on defense every year.
- Despite its spending, Saudi Arabia is struggling to protect key assets from Houthi attacks.
Still unconfirmed
- Pakistan's Chinese-made weapons could help protect Saudi Arabia from Houthi attacks.
What to watch next
- Pakistan's upcoming diplomatic engagements with Saudi Arabia and Iran
- Decisions on potential military cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia
- Escalation of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian assets
confidence 80%Sources used for this update (13)
- www.aljazeera.com — Pakistan | Pakistan | Today's latest from Al Jazeera
- en.wikipedia.org — History of Pakistan - Wikipedia
- www.pakistan.gov.pk — Government of Pakistan
- simple.wikipedia.org — Pakistan - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Financial Times — Pakistan’s hard choice on Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen
- Middle East Institute — The Mecca Defense Alliance and the Potential for a New Regional Security Framework
- South China Morning Post — Could Pakistan’s Chinese-made weapons help protect Saudi Arabia from Houthi attacks?
- Dawn — Makkah Alliance sec-gen meets PM Shehbaz, briefs premier on defence cooperation
- NDTV — Pakistan's Dual Messaging To Iran And Saudi Amid Escalating Houthi Attacks
- www.latimes.com — U.S. stocks hover near their latest record in mixed trading on Wall Street
- kioncentralcoast.com — Why billions spent on defense haven’t shielded Saudi Arabia from Houthi attacks – KION Central Coast
- en.wikipedia.org — History of Pakistan (1947–present) - Wikipedia
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