Pakistan refuses Yemen deployment (2015)
Saudi Arabia asked Pakistan for troops, ships, and aircraft to join its war against Houthi forces in Yemen. After a five-day debate, Pakistan's parliament voted unanimously to stay neutral. The decision strained relations with Riyadh and prompted public Saudi criticism.
Saudi Arabia's then-ambassador to the UAE called Pakistan's stance a sign it would face 'a heavy price' for its neutrality. Islamabad sent a small training contingent as a face-saving gesture.
Relations recovered, but Riyadh sought alternative security partners and pushed Pakistan toward closer cooperation later in the decade. The 2025 mutual defense pact reversed the Yemen-era distance.
The current deployment is the exact opposite of the 2015 decision. Then, Pakistan refused to fight a Saudi war; now it has put combat forces in the kingdom while Riyadh fights a larger one.
