Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye Could Act Together to Stop Houthi Attacks, Says Defence Analyst
ISLAMABAD:Defence analyst Major General (retd) Tariq Rashid has said Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye could work together to prevent further Houthi attacks if the group refuses to halt its operations.
Speaking on Samaa News, Rashid said Pakistan was urging Iran to use its influence to persuade the Houthis to stop their attacks, warning that continued hostilities could lead to further escalation.
He claimed that a forensic examination of a missile recovered in Saudi Arabia had identified components originating from more than a dozen countries. The claim was not independently verified in the report.
Rashid said Iran had made offers to both Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. He added that discussions during the Field Marshal’s meetings would also cover the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Houthi attacks.
He expressed optimism that the Field Marshal’s return would bring positive developments.
Discussing regional defence cooperation, Rashid said a defence agreement involving three countries had subsequently expanded, with Qatar and Indonesia joining Pakistan, bringing the number of participating countries to five. He added that Iran had also expressed interest in the arrangement.
Commenting on the ongoing confrontation, Rashid said Saudi Arabia was targeting military installations, while the Houthis were attacking oil facilities and airports. He described the Houthis as a non-state actor and argued that coordinated action by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye could help prevent further attacks.
He reiterated that Pakistan was engaging with Iran to encourage Tehran to persuade the Houthis to exercise restraint.
Rashid also alleged that the Houthis had developed links with Israel and certain other countries, although he did not provide independently verified evidence to support the assertion.
He maintained that diplomatic engagement and regional coordination would be important in addressing the growing security concerns surrounding Saudi Arabia and key maritime routes in the Middle East.
