With Pakistani lives lost in the Red Sea, Islamabad can no longer sit on the fence, yet retaliation could open a can of worms and widen the conflict. Pakistan should use the Mecca Pact as a shield, not a sword—protecting its citizens and maritime interests without becoming entangled in another Middle Eastern quagmire.
Introduction
What Happened in the Red Sea?
Houthis backed by Iran attacked a ship in the area of Yemen on Tuesday, 11 August, 2026, killing three Pakistani citizens. Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, said on Wednesday that the attack on the ship conducted by the Houthi rebels in the Bab el-Mandeb strait was condemnable. He added that “such acts not only threaten human life but also amount to an infringement of international laws and pose a great threat to freedom of navigation, maritime security, and safety of commercial shipping in the Red Sea.” It is worth mentioning that the act of attack was part of the increasing Houthi attacks on the forces of the Yemeni government and the oil installations in neighboring Saudi Arabia.
Why are the Houthis attacking the ships?
A cause may be political, but its consequences can become indiscriminately human. It appears from the incident that it was specifically targeted against Pakistan. However, Houthis have issued another explanation for their actions. It was a commercial cargo ship (named Tihamah) in the Red Sea/Bab al-Mandeb Straits attacked by Houthis because of their allegation that the vessel contained military supplies for the Saudis. The unfortunate incident in which three Pakistani sailors were killed occurred as the result of the multinational crew of the ship sailing through the targeted shipping routes. There are two main factions controlling Yemen: Houthis, backed by Iran, in the north of Yemen, and another internationally recognized group backed by Saudis in the south. Houthis accuse Saudis of backing the southern faction, which in turn targets Houthis. As a countermeasure, Houthis have vowed to disrupt Saudi-linked shipments through the Red Sea route. The August 11 attack is just the continuation of that policy and has now brought Pakistan into the fray.
The Mecca Pact: Pakistan’s Strategic Crossroads
Pakistan is now facing two strategic dilemmas: one to support Saudi Arabia against the Houthis and the other of retaliation of direct Houthi attacks against Pakistanis in the Red Sea. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey have signed a mutual defense agreement on 7 August 2026. This defense pact works on a very simple principle: “An attack on one is considered an attack on all.” In addition, Saudi Arabia is also establishing a maritime coalition in the region to halt and confront any future Houthi aggression.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said, “Pakistan was ready to help Saudi Arabia and other members implement a new Saudi-led maritime coalition aimed at protecting shipping and global supply chains. Pakistan is a signatory of this coalition. We abide by its communique, and we are ready and willing to assist Saudi Arabia and other coalition partners in the operationalization of this communique to preserve the safety and security of the global supply chain, as well as the maritime traffic.”
This statement by the foreign office of Pakistan is a clear signal that this time Pakistan could take serious retaliatory steps against any aggression in the region in one way or the other. The August 11 attack was not only meant against Saudis, but it also resulted in the loss of the lives of nearly 3 Pakistanis. In prior cases, Pakistan might have avoided direct entanglement with Houthis, but this time it’s a matter of national security, and the already signed Mecca Pact and membership in the Saudi-led maritime coalition further provide impetus to this. If, in case, Pakistan denies the retaliation, it would only compromise its partnership with Saudis as well as face international humiliation of forming loose, non-credible coalitions.
Is the Muslim World Being Set Against Itself?
“United we stand, divided we fall.” (Aesop)
Every unbiased analysis would only lead us to one point: the only cause of the volatility in the region is the United States and Israel. The Mecca Pact potentially represents a new trend: regional states attempting to develop their own security architecture. The pact has been interpreted as part of Saudi Arabia’s effort to diversify beyond reliance on Washington. However, there are still doubts about the pact. Is this pact really formed against a common threat, or is it Western propaganda to make Muslim nations fight with each other? The danger is not merely that Muslim states fight one another; it is that external powers can benefit when regional states remain divided, militarily dependent, and strategically suspicious of one another.
Pakistan Must Not Become a Pawn
Pakistan cannot allow itself to become a tool of the Red Sea crisis, nor can it afford to remain an outsider to this crisis. The act committed against the Pakistani sailors is undoubtedly condemnable, and Pakistan has full rights to retaliate; however, it should also be kept in mind that any move made in a hurry might give rise to a larger problem altogether. And to be honest, this is precisely what the Western powers want. The US and Israel now need the cooperation of the Gulf states; hence, both are making great efforts to win the support of all Gulf countries against Iran and its regional allies. In other words, Pakistan has to safeguard its people without joining the fray, improve its maritime security without sparking off another round of conflict, and utilize the Mecca Pact for regional deterrence.
Taut Bataut is a researcher and writer who publishes on South Asian geopolitics
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