Pakistan will use “whatever means are available” to defend Saudi Arabia against Iran-backed Houthi rebels, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on Tuesday, offering one of Islamabad’s strongest indications yet that it could become directly involved in the widening regional conflict. Speaking to reporters during a visit to Rome, Asif said Pakistan’s military capabilities would be made available to Saudi Arabia under the recently established mutual defence arrangement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. However, he stopped short of confirming whether Pakistani forces had already taken part in airstrikes in Yemen.

Asif was asked whether Pakistan had participated in airstrikes against Iranian operators in Yemen. He declined to provide details but said the terms of the defence arrangement meant Pakistan would make its available capabilities accessible to Saudi Arabia if required. “I’m not going into detail,” he said, while emphasizing that Pakistan was bound by the agreement to defend Saudi Arabia. His comments did not amount to a confirmation that Pakistani troops or aircraft had already participated in military operations. He also did not say whether Riyadh had formally requested direct military assistance from Islamabad.

The comments come amid an escalation in attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels against Saudi Arabia. The Houthis, who are aligned with Iran, have launched missile and drone attacks against Saudi targets in recent weeks, increasing concerns that the conflict could expand beyond Yemen. The attacks have also raised security concerns around key regional infrastructure and maritime routes, including the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategically important passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Saudi Arabia has been seeking support from regional partners as it responds to the renewed Houthi offensive.

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Pakistan’s commitment is linked to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Pakistani officials have previously said that the agreement treats aggression against one member as a matter requiring a response from the other members. Earlier this month, Asif said the pact could become operational if the conflict in Yemen spilled over into Saudi territory. Pakistan’s Foreign Office has described the arrangement as a defensive alliance focused on regional security and deterrence, while saying the three countries were continuing consultations on its implementation.

The latest statement came days after the military chiefs of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey met in Riyadh to discuss responses to the Houthi attacks. The meeting was held as the three countries continued discussions on implementing the defence agreement and coordinating their security positions. The alliance is still developing its operational framework, and the extent to which Pakistan or Turkey could become involved in military operations remains a key question as the situation evolves. Asif’s comments indicate that Pakistan considers its defence commitments to Saudi Arabia binding, but they do not establish that Islamabad has already entered the conflict militarily.

At the same time, Pakistan has maintained that it supports diplomatic efforts to end the wider regional conflict. Asif has previously said Islamabad would stand by Saudi Arabia both practically and diplomatically if the situation escalated, while Pakistani officials have continued to emphasize dialogue and regional stability. The government also maintains diplomatic channels with Iran despite Tehran’s support for the Houthis. The latest comments therefore leave open the question of how Pakistan would balance its defence commitments to Saudi Arabia with its stated efforts to pursue negotiations and avoid a broader regional escalation.

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