Pakistan Denies Report Its Jets Are Striking Houthis in Yemen as Questions Swirl Over Role in Saudi Campaign
Pakistan’s information ministry has rejected as “fake and fabricated” a New York Times report quoting a senior military official who said Pakistani fighter jets are carrying out airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen alongside Saudi forces. The dispute over Islamabad’s role comes as the Houthis fire missiles at Saudi infrastructure.
Pakistan has publicly pushed back against claims that its air force is bombing Houthi targets in Yemen, denying a report that it has joined Saudi Arabia’s campaign at a moment when Houthi attacks are again reaching inside the kingdom.
A New York Times report cited a senior Pakistani military official as saying Pakistani fighter jets were conducting airstrikes against the Houthis in coordination with Saudi Arabia. Pakistan’s Ministry of Information responded by calling the report “fake and fabricated” and insisting that no such operations are taking place.
The denial comes as the Houthis fire ballistic missiles at Saudi infrastructure, including a strike on the Abqaiq oil refinery and a reported attack on Riyadh’s international airport. Against that backdrop, any suggestion of new outside airpower entering the conflict carries weight, regardless of whether it is confirmed.
Inside Pakistan, the allegation touches on a sensitive issue. The country has close security ties with Saudi Arabia but faces public resistance to sending forces into conflicts abroad. Acknowledging covert participation in Yemen would risk political backlash and friction between civilian leaders and the military.
At the same time, Pakistan depends heavily on Saudi financial support, energy supplies and jobs for its citizens in the Gulf. Long‑standing military cooperation with Riyadh, including training and advisory roles, makes reports of deeper involvement in Yemen plausible enough to attract attention even as officials deny them.
For the Houthis, reports that Pakistani jets might be taking part in the air campaign reinforce the narrative that they are fighting a broader coalition rather than just Saudi and Emirati forces. That perception can influence how they justify further cross‑border strikes on Saudi territory.
For Saudi Arabia, the key question is how much external support it can call on as its territory comes under renewed attack. If partners such as Pakistan are unwilling to be associated with combat operations, Riyadh may have to rely more on its own capabilities or look for help elsewhere.
Diplomats and intelligence services will be watching for evidence that could clarify Pakistan’s actual role, such as identifiable aircraft in Yemeni airspace or changes in deployment patterns. Any shift in the language used by Saudi or Pakistani officials about cooperation in Yemen would be an early sign that the gap between public statements and operations on the ground is widening.
Sources
- OSINT