Asim Munir drags Pakistan into the Saudi- Houthi war under the Mecca pact without consulting the country's political leadership

Pakistan has agreed to rapidly deploy additional military forces to Saudi Arabia under a defence arrangement without a parliamentary vote, marking a departure from its 2015 decision to stay out of the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen. The move highlights the growing influence of the military over the country's foreign policy under Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to a Reuters report.

The defence arrangement was activated for the first time on Monday, following an August agreement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, as the kingdom faces escalating attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi group. Pakistan had initially held back from joining the Yemen conflict, even as the Houthis expanded their influence around the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key route for oil shipments.

Constitutional changes introduced last year placed Munir in command of all three services until 2030. He was also granted the lifetime rank of field marshal and immunity from criminal prosecution.


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Analysts cited by Reuters said the deployment reflected the military's growing domestic political influence. The development comes as supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan prepare to march on Islamabad, accusing the army of dominating politics. The military has denied the allegation.

“There were times in the past when Pakistan's parliament would vote not to send troops, and the military would abide by that decision. But it's a different era now,” Michael Kugelman, a resident senior fellow for South Asia at the Atlantic Council, told Reuters.

Pakistan's information ministry said the alliance had “gone through all necessary government procedures” but did not clarify whether the cabinet or parliament had been involved. It described details of the deployment as “a matter of operational confidentiality”, Reuters reported.

Scope of Pakistan's military role remains unclear

It remains uncertain whether Pakistani troops will participate directly in operations against the Houthis, who are backed by Iran. Islamabad is also engaged with Tehran as a mediator in the US-led war on Iran. Direct military involvement against the Houthis could therefore strain Pakistan's relations with Iran.

The Houthis announced a ban on Saudi shipping in July and have since targeted tankers and oil facilities. Last week, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said the group had attacked a power station in Medina that supplies electricity to the Prophet's Mosque. The Houthis denied the allegation.

Following an emergency meeting in Riyadh attended by Munir and his Saudi and Turkish counterparts, the three countries condemned attempted attacks on Mecca and Medina. They said they would “provide the agreed military forces and capabilities and ensure their rapid deployment”, in accordance with each country's “national legislation”.

The statement did not specify the number of troops involved, their missions, command arrangements, costs or the duration of the deployment.

How the decision differs from 2015

In 2015, when Saudi Arabia sought Pakistani troops, warplanes and ships for its military campaign in Yemen, the government in Islamabad referred the request to parliament. Lawmakers unanimously voted for Pakistan to remain neutral in the conflict while pledging to defend Saudi territory and its holy sites.

Analysts told Reuters that the difference between the two decisions is political rather than legal. Pakistan's Constitution placed control and command of the armed forces with the federal government in 2015, as it does today.

The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, whose text has not been made public, builds on a 2025 defence pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Under that arrangement, Pakistan had sent approximately 8,000 troops to the kingdom by May, Reuters reported.

Military influence and foreign policy

The latest deployment has renewed attention on the military's role in shaping Pakistan's foreign and domestic policies. Analysts cited by Reuters view the decision as evidence of how the balance between parliamentary authority and military influence has changed since 2015, when lawmakers explicitly ruled out joining the Yemen campaign.

The government has said the alliance followed the necessary procedures, but it has not publicly clarified the extent of parliamentary or cabinet involvement in approving the latest deployment.