Is Pakistan Being Dragged into the US-Iran War?

With Pakistani lives lost in the Red Sea, Islamabad can no longer sit on the fence, yet retaliation could open a can of worms and widen the conflict. Pakistan should use the Mecca Pact as a shield, not a sword—protecting its citizens and maritime interests without becoming entangled in another Middle Eastern quagmire.

What Happened in the Red Sea?

Houthis backed by Iran attacked a ship in the area of Yemen on Tuesday, 11 August, 2026, killing three Pakistani citizens. Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, said on Wednesday that the attack on the ship conducted by the Houthi rebels in the Bab el-Mandeb strait was condemnable. He added that “such acts not only threaten human life but also amount to an infringement of international laws and pose a great threat to freedom of navigation, maritime security, and safety of commercial shipping in the Red Sea.” It is worth mentioning that the act of attack was part of the increasing Houthi attacks on the forces of the Yemeni government and the oil installations in neighboring Saudi Arabia.

Why are the Houthis attacking the ships?

A cause may be political, but its consequences can become indiscriminately human. It appears from the incident that it was specifically targeted against Pakistan. However, Houthis have issued another explanation for their actions. It was a commercial cargo ship (named Tihamah) in the Red Sea/Bab al-Mandeb........

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