Makkah defence pact may become operational if Saudi Arabia faces aggression: Asif

Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye could become operational if the ongoing conflict in Yemen spills over into Saudi Arabia.

Speaking in a television interview, Asif said the agreement was a collective defence arrangement under which aggression against one member would be treated as aggression against all three.

“There should be no doubt” that the pact would become operational in case of unprovoked aggression or a spillover of the Yemen conflict into Saudi Arabia, he said.

Asif said Pakistan was bound by the agreement and would honour its commitments if the need arose, stressing that the pact was intended for joint defence and collective assistance rather than aggression.

The minister’s remarks came after Houthi rebels launched attacks on several locations in southern Saudi Arabia, reportedly injuring more than 70 people and damaging energy infrastructure.

He said the three signatories had established their respective strengths and did not necessarily need to respond to aggression with aggression, while the defence pact itself could serve as a deterrent.

Asif said Pakistan had longstanding ties with Saudi Arabia and had supported the kingdom during difficult periods in the past. He recalled that Pakistan had also assisted Saudi Arabia when the Yemen conflict intensified in 2014.

He expressed hope that the situation would de-escalate and that the Houthis would refrain from extending the Yemen conflict into Saudi territory.

The minister also said Pakistan remained hopeful about a resolution to the current US-Iran standoff, describing the negotiations as being at a stalemate but maintaining that indirect engagement was continuing.

Asif said Pakistan was in a difficult position because of its close relations with countries on both sides of the conflict and stressed the need for peace and stability in the region.