As an ally bound by a mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s
military said on the 17th it will support Riyadh "at all costs" amid rising
Houthi attacks from Yemen, including helping to defend the holy cities Mecca and
Medina. Military spokesman Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan will back Saudi Arabia
Arabia both diplomatically and through substantive action to safeguard the holy
sites and the kingdom’s security.