Islamabad, Sep 9 (EFE).- Pakistan is mulling to carry out airstrikes against Houthi militants in Yemen following a request from Saudi Arabia, according to security sources, as Islamabad considers operationalizing its defense pact with the kingdom.
The development came a day after Houthi militants attacked civilian and economic targets in Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones.
Houthi militia hit the kingdom’s Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran regions, targeting civilian and energy facilities which left more than 70 people injured.
“Currently, Pakistan is considering carrying out airstrikes against Houthi forces in Yemen from Saudi soil,” a high-ranking security official told EFE, requesting not to be named.
The official, however, said that the decision to make such a move public has not been taken yet.
“There will be no way to confirm whether the strikes have been carried out by us or the Saudis unless it is made public” the official added.
Pakistan currently has more than 10,000 troops stationed in Saudi Arabia, security sources previously told EFE, though it remains unclear whether any fighter jets are deployed there.
The official refused to provide information on the previous or future deployment of Pakistani jets in Saudi Arabia.
On Aug. 7, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, a trilateral pact that formalizes collective defense among the three countries.
Three of the Muslim world’s most consequential military and economic powers agreed that an attack on one is an attack on all.
Pakistani defence minister Khawaja Asif has also cautioned that the pact could become operational if there was a “spillover” of the conflict in Yemen into Riyadh.
Speaking to Geo TV on Tuesday night, Asif was asked whether the strategic pact could be operationalized.
The minister answered in the affirmative, stating there was no «ambiguity» in that, as the pact clearly states that any aggression against one party is considered aggression against all.
“This is a joint defense pact. And unprovoked aggression or spillover of whatever is happening in Yemen into Saudi Arabia, definitely, the pact will become operational; there should be no doubt in this,” he said.
“We are bound by the terms and conditions of this pact and we will honor them in case there is a need,” the minister warned. EFE
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