Houthi attacks test Pakistan-Saudi-Turkey defense pact

Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia are testing the Mecca Agreement, a mutual defense pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, raising questions about whether the alliance will fulfill its collective response promise. The pact's deterrence has failed to prevent weeks of Houthi strikes, and analysts say Pakistan faces significant constraints to military involvement, including domestic security threats from TTP and Baloch groups, and a reluctance to enter the Saudi-Iran rivalry. Pakistan's response has been strategically cautious, with Prime Minister Sharif not naming the Houthis or Iran in his condemnation. The crisis exposes gaps in the agreement, including a lack of military interoperability and concerns over Pakistan's large Shia population. The alliance's credibility is also tested by attacks from non-state actors, as seen in a recent mosque blast in Pakistan, leaving the pact's future uncertain.