The Middle East is entering a more dangerous phase as non-state actors increasingly acquire the means to project military power beyond their borders. The Houthi movement in Yemen exemplifies this transformation. What began as an internal political and armed conflict has evolved into a wider challenge to regional security, state sovereignty and international maritime commerce. For Pakistan, the implications extend beyond the Arabian Peninsula, touching its strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia, the sanctity of Haramain Sharifain and the security of its own maritime interests.
