Houthi Attack on Riyadh Airport Sparks Regional Crisis for Pakistan
A Houthi attack on Riyadh's airport suspends flights and tests Pakistan's Makkah Pact mutual defense obligations toward Saudi Arabia amid soaring regional tensions.
A massive fire broke out at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following a drone and missile attack by the Houthi movement from Yemen. Thick black smoke billowed over the Saudi capital, forcing authorities to temporarily suspend all flight operations and departures. Emergency and rescue services rushed to the scene to battle the blaze while assessing structural damage and assessing the wider disruption to air traffic.
The Makkah Pact and Pakistan's Dilemma
The escalation between Riyadh and the Houthis threatens to drag Pakistan into a direct Middle Eastern military campaign. Underpinning this risk is the Makkah Pact, a mutual defense agreement signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which was joined by Turkey last August. The treaty dictates that an armed attack against one member state constitutes an attack against all.
The pact was spearheaded by Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In exchange for military protection and troop training, cash-strapped Pakistan received an $8 billion financial lifeline comprising investments and loans. However, the regional security landscape has rapidly deteriorated since the agreement was inked.
Growing Anxiety in Islamabad
While public statements from Islamabad maintain that its commitment to Saudi security is absolute, intense anxiety simmers behind closed doors. If Riyadh demands the activation of the mutual defense clause to counter the Houthis, economically dependent Pakistan would find it exceedingly difficult to refuse.
"If Pakistan jumps into this war, it will be a disaster. The economy is shattered, inflation is soaring, and we are already dealing with two armed insurgencies," warned Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas.
Security analysts note that the Pakistani military leadership miscalculated the speed of regional escalation. With a massive domestic Shia population and ongoing conflicts along the Afghan border and in Balochistan, direct intervention in Yemen poses grave internal risks for Islamabad.
