Pakistan Navigates Diplomatic Tightrope Amid Saudi-UAE Tensions in Yemen

ISLAMABAD:  As the security situation in Yemen deteriorates, Pakistan has found itself in a delicate diplomatic position, engaging in rapid high-level consultations with both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

On Tuesday, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, held an urgent telephonic conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. The discussion focused on the “current regional situation,” a veiled reference to the escalating friction between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over military movements in Yemen’s border governorates.

This communication is particularly significant given Pakistan’s landmark defense pact signed with Riyadh earlier this year, which stipulates that “aggression against one country would be treated as an attack on both.”

Simultaneously, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in the Pakistani city of Rahim Yar Khan. While the official agenda focused on a “quantum jump” in bilateral trade and cooperation in IT, energy, and defense, the backdrop of the meeting was dominated by the UAE’s announced withdrawal of counter-terrorism units from Yemen.

Pakistan relies heavily on both nations for economic stability and defense cooperation:

A deep-rooted strategic and religious bond, bolstered by a mutual defense treaty.

A massive trade partner and a key destination for Pakistani expatriate labor.

As Yemen’s Presidential Council cancels defense pacts with the UAE and Saudi Arabia warns of threats to its national security, Pakistan’s dual-track diplomacy highlights its role as a potential bridge-builder. Islamabad’s challenge remains maintaining its “unwavering commitment” to Saudi sovereignty without alienating its vital economic partnership with the Emirates.