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Saudi-Pakistan Ink New Visa Deal Amid Houthi Attacks, Despite Defense Pact.
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News18•22-09-2026, 09:17
Saudi-Pakistan Ink New Visa Deal Amid Houthi Attacks, Despite Defense Pact.
- •Saudi Arabia faces escalating Houthi attacks targeting oil installations and sea routes.
- •Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agreed in New York to abolish visa requirements for diplomatic and official passport holders.
- •The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed in August, considers an attack on one signatory an attack on all three (Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey).
- •Despite Houthi aggression, Pakistan has not yet initiated direct military action to support Saudi Arabia.
- •Pakistan affirms commitment to the defense agreement but keeps military deployment details confidential.
Key Questions Answered
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement on the sidelines of the UNGA to abolish visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, official, and special passports from both countries.
In August, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, which states that an armed attack on any one of the three nations is considered an attack on the other two.
Although the defense agreement stipulates that an attack on one member is an attack on all, it does not mandate automatic battlefield entry. Pakistan has not yet initiated direct military action or publicized operational details, keeping its forces away from the front lines for now.
