US Lawmaker Urges Pakistan, Turkiye to Back Saudi Action Against Houthis

A senior United States lawmaker has publicly urged Pakistan and Turkiye to work with Saudi Arabia against Yemen's Houthis after Saudi forces reported intercepting a drone near Makkah, bringing renewed attention to Pakistan's regional security commitments and the escalating conflict around the Arabian Peninsula. Republican Representative Joe Wilson made the appeal on social media, linking his call to the defence relationship among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.

Wilson accused the Houthis of threatening Muslim holy sites and argued that Pakistan and Turkiye should support Saudi Arabia in confronting the group. His remarks represent the position of an individual US legislator rather than an announced policy decision by Washington, Islamabad or Ankara. No Pakistani announcement cited in connection with his statement indicated that Islamabad had agreed to undertake military action in Yemen.

Pakistan has, however, repeatedly condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi territory. The Foreign Office said earlier this month that attacks on civilian and economic targets in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran violated Saudi sovereignty and threatened wider regional stability. Islamabad also stated that, consistent with the UN Charter and international law, it supports Saudi Arabia's right to defend its territory, citizens and national assets.

Pakistan's position at the United Nations has combined support for Saudi security with calls for de-escalation in Yemen. Pakistan's representative told an emergency UN Security Council meeting that attacks on Saudi civilian and economic targets were a serious concern while stressing the need to preserve space for diplomacy and pursue a comprehensive political settlement capable of producing lasting stability in Yemen and the wider region.

The latest appeal also comes amid scrutiny of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. Pakistani officials have described the arrangement as defensive and focused on collective deterrence and regional stability. Officials have also indicated that implementation and operational aspects of the arrangement require consultations among the participating states, meaning public statements by foreign politicians do not by themselves determine how Pakistan would respond to a particular security incident.

The Yemen conflict has again become increasingly relevant to Pakistan because attacks on Saudi territory and commercial routes around the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab can carry economic and security consequences well beyond the immediate battlefield. Pakistani representatives have warned that disruption to strategic maritime passages could affect international commerce, while the government has continued to emphasize Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and the importance of avoiding a wider regional confrontation.

The next significant development will be whether Islamabad, Ankara or Riyadh formally responds to Wilson's proposal or announces additional steps under their defence arrangements. For now, Pakistan's documented public position remains support for Saudi Arabia's security and territorial integrity alongside advocacy of dialogue, de-escalation and a negotiated political settlement for Yemen.