Khawaja Asif says Makkah defence pact could be activated after Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia

In an interview with a private television channel, Asif said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye requires the three countries to assist one another in the event of aggression. Under the agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three countries is regarded as an attack against all three.

The defence minister said Pakistan would not back away from its responsibilities under the agreement and that Islamabad’s position regarding the security of Saudi Arabia was clear. The comments came after Yemen’s Houthi forces launched attacks on several Saudi cities and economic installations, including Abha, Khamis Mushait, Najran and Jazan.

The attacks injured 73 people, including women and children,. The Houthi attacks marked a major escalation in the regional conflict, with missiles and drones targeting Saudi military and energy-related sites. The strikes also raised concerns over the security of critical energy infrastructure and regional stability.

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in August. The agreement states that an armed attack against any one of the three countries shall be regarded as an attack against all, while also calling for enhanced defence cooperation among the three states.

The three countries subsequently established a Strategic Political and Defence Committee under the agreement to strengthen coordination, collective deterrence and defence cooperation. The committee held its inaugural meeting in Istanbul on August 31. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, saying such attacks threaten innocent lives and undermine regional peace and security.