The recent attacks on Saudi Arabia have put the Makkah Defence Pact under renewed focus. Pakistan has warned that the agreement could be activated if aggression from Yemen spills into Saudi territory.
The warning came after a major escalation involving the Houthi movement in Yemen. The Houthis claimed to have fired dozens of ballistic missiles toward targets in southern Saudi Arabia.
The reported attacks wounded 73 people and caused fires at oil-related facilities. The developments have raised concerns that the conflict in Yemen could expand into a wider regional confrontation.
The issue is especially important for Pakistan because of its defence commitments to Saudi Arabia. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Makkah Defence Pact on August 7.
The agreement includes a collective-defence commitment among the three countries. Under the pact, aggression against one member is to be treated as aggression against all three.
Speaking during a television programme, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the agreement could become operational if the situation in Yemen crosses into Saudi Arabia through unprovoked aggression.
Asif said Pakistan had accepted specific obligations when it joined the pact. He added that Islamabad would honour those commitments if circumstances required such action.
The defence minister stressed that Pakistan does not view the agreement as merely symbolic. He said the pact is based on joint defence and collective assistance among its members.
According to Asif, Pakistan would be expected to respond if Saudi Arabia faced aggression covered by the agreement. He also said he was not aware of any fresh contact between Islamabad and Riyadh following the latest attacks.
However, the lack of new communication did not change Pakistan’s position. Asif said Islamabad’s commitment was already defined by the terms of the defence agreement.
He also emphasized that the alliance is defensive rather than aggressive. Its purpose is to deter attacks and demonstrate the collective strength of its members.
The minister said the pact should not be viewed as a mechanism for initiating hostilities. Instead, it is intended to provide collective support when a member faces aggression.
Asif also said Pakistan’s response would not necessarily depend only on the trilateral agreement. He pointed to Islamabad’s longstanding relationship with Riyadh.
The defence minister argued that Pakistan would have supported Saudi Arabia even under a bilateral arrangement. He described the relationship between the two countries as longstanding and important.
Asif also issued a message to the Houthi movement. He urged the group not to allow Yemen’s internal conflict to spill across the border into Saudi Arabia.
He warned that attempts to expand the confrontation into Saudi territory could activate the collective-defence provisions of the Makkah agreement.
Asif described the Houthis as a non-state actor. He also noted that Yemen’s government had responded to their attacks.
The minister acknowledged Iran’s influence and sympathy across parts of the Muslim world. However, he argued that non-state groups should not use broader regional disputes to advance their own objectives.
He suggested that such actions could eventually expose the Houthis themselves to greater risks. Despite the rising tensions, Asif said he hoped the latest escalation would eventually subside.
The warning followed the reported Houthi assault on southern Saudi Arabia. The group claimed that dozens of ballistic missiles were launched toward Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran.
The reported targets included Abha International Airport and King Khalid Air Base. Facilities linked to Saudi oil giant Aramco were also reportedly targeted.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attacks and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia. He said the strikes threatened innocent lives and regional peace and security.
Shehbaz also reaffirmed Islamabad’s support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. He expressed concern over those injured in the attacks.
The latest developments have placed the Makkah Defence Pact at the centre of regional security discussions. Any further expansion of the conflict into Saudi territory could test the commitments made under the agreement.
For Pakistan, the situation also highlights the importance of its strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. Islamabad is now closely watching developments to determine whether the situation requires further action.
Also read: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia & Türkiye Sign Historic Makkah Defence Agreement
