Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said Pakistan would honour its commitments under the joint defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye if Saudi Arabia faces further aggression from Yemen.
Speaking in an interview with a private television channel, Asif said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement requires the three countries to assist one another in the event of an armed attack.
He said the agreement clearly stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be treated as an attack against all three.
The defence minister reiterated that Pakistan would not back away from its responsibilities under the pact, adding that Islamabad’s position on the security and protection of Saudi Arabia was clear.
His remarks came after Yemen’s Houthi forces carried out attacks on several Saudi cities and economic installations, including Abha, Khamis Mushait, Najran and Jazan. The attacks reportedly injured 73 people, including women and children.
The strikes involved missiles and drones targeting Saudi military and energy-related facilities, raising concerns over the safety of critical infrastructure and the wider stability of the region.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in August to strengthen defence cooperation and collective security among the three countries.
Under the agreement, the three states also established a Strategic Political and Defence Committee to enhance 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 strikes threaten innocent lives and undermine regional peace and security.
