Pakistan on Iran: The latest tension between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi fighters has increased Pakistan’s tension. Islamabad is in fear at this time and in this fear it is now looking directly at Iran. In a strong diplomatic tone, Pakistan has drawn a ‘red line’ in front of Tehran and has clearly said that any attack on Saudi Arabia will be considered an attack on Pakistan.
Actually, there is a big compulsion behind this problem of Pakistan. If the war between Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels progresses, Pakistan will not be able to stay away from it even if it wants to. There is a ‘Mutual Defense Pact’ (mutual defense agreement) between the two countries, according to which an attack on one country is considered an attack on the other. For this reason, Pakistan is badly trapped at this time.
The entire controversy erupted on Monday when Houthi rebels fired missiles at an airport controlled by Saudi Arabia. This cross-border firing violated the peace agreement that has been in place for the last four years.
Under the agreement signed last year, Pakistan has deployed thousands of its soldiers and an entire squadron of fighter jets in Saudi Arabia. According to security analysts, these Pakistani soldiers are deployed very close to the Saudi border with Yemen. In such a situation, if the attacks of Houthi fighters increase, then the Pakistani Army will directly burn in the fire of this war without fighting any war.
This is the same Pakistan which had played the role of mediator to make an interim agreement between America and Iran only last month. Islamabad was then presenting itself as an impartial peacemaker between the two sides. As the Houthis fired missiles at Saudi, Pakistan’s nervousness turned into immense anger towards Iran.
According to Reuters report, Pakistan’s top civilian and military leadership has sent a message to Iran at the highest level that an attack on Saudi Arabia means an attack on Pakistan. This is our ‘red line’.
Pakistan also in tension regarding Red Sea
Due to attacks by Houthi rebels, the ‘Red Sea’ trade route has become completely unsafe. This is the sea route on which Pakistan’s entire international trade depends. If this conflict spreads further, the global supply chain will come to a standstill, which could lead to a new era of inflation and poverty in Pakistan.