Why it is in the news
On 8 October 2026 the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was reported by The New York Times to have joined air strikes on the Iran-backed Houthis (Ansar Allah) in Yemen — Pakistan's first combat role in the Saudi war since the Mecca (Makkah) Joint Defence Agreement was activated. ISPR Director-General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed that Pakistani forces are already in Saudi Arabia “in multiple capabilities and domains”, calling any involvement “defensive in nature”, while Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the pact does not authorise attacks on other countries.
The exam angle
Issue: Does Pakistan's entry into the Saudi war against the Houthis mark the birth of a functioning Islamic collective-defence bloc, and how should India respond?