Mayur MohtaYemen’s Houthi movement hopes Turkey and Pakistan will stay out of Saudi Arabia’s military campaign against it, a senior official told reporters.
Houthis Voice Hope for Restraint
Yemen’s Houthi movement expects Pakistan and Turkey to avoid joining Saudi Arabia’s military campaign against it. Hezam al-Assad, a member of the Houthi political bureau, shared this hope. He belongs to the Shiite political and military group that controls northern Yemen.
“We hope that the governments of Pakistan and Turkey will refrain from complicity in the aggression of the Saudi enemy and the blockade against our country, which has continued for more than 11 years and has led to tens of thousands of casualties… We expect them to consider the consequences that such participation or support for the aggression could have for their relations with the Yemeni people and the interests of their own countries in the region,” he said.
Mecca Pact Pushes Turkey and Pakistan Into Action
On Monday, Turkey and Pakistan moved toward practical steps under the Mecca Defense Pact. Both countries agreed to carry out collective defense duties. They also agreed to enable rapid deployment of military forces inside Saudi Arabia.
Houthis Call Saudi Support an “Injustice”
Houthi leaders believe backing from Pakistan or Turkey for Saudi actions would harm ordinary Yemenis. The movement said such support “would constitute an injustice against the Yemeni people and could have significant negative consequences that go against the interests of the Turkish and Pakistani peoples.”
Houthis Defend Their Right to Self-Defense
The Houthi political bureau member stressed their right to self-defense. He pointed to repeated Saudi airstrikes across Yemen. He also cited the long-running blockade imposed on the country.
Inside the Mecca Defense Pact
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement on August 7. The pact treats an armed attack on any one member as an attack on all three nations.
Aditya Didwaniya
Pratik Agrawal
Akshay Didwaniya