Pakistan Pledges to Honor Security Pact If Saudi Arabia Is Attacked
Pakistan has warned that its newly signed defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye could be activated if further aggression against Saudi territory occurs. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said there should be “no ambiguity” over Pakistan’s commitment to the pact.
The warning follows a major Houthi attack on southern Saudi Arabia. Missiles and drones targeted cities, military facilities and energy infrastructure, leaving at least 73 people injured, according to Saudi and regional reports.
Asif said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement treats an armed attack against one member as an attack against all three. He stressed that Pakistan is bound by the agreement and would honour its terms if Saudi Arabia faces aggression.
The agreement was signed in Makkah on August 7 by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. Pakistan has described it as a defensive arrangement designed to strengthen collective deterrence rather than create an offensive military alliance.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has separately condemned the Houthi attacks and reaffirmed Islamabad’s support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.
The latest warning comes as the wider Middle East conflict continues to expand. Saudi Arabia has intensified military operations against the Iran-backed Houthis, while attacks on oil facilities and shipping are raising fresh concerns over regional energy security.
Asif nevertheless said the pact is defensive and that Pakistan hopes the situation does not escalate further. Any direct activation of the agreement could significantly widen the regional conflict and bring Pakistan and Türkiye more directly into the confrontation.
