Additionally, he confirmed that the trilateral Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, applies directly to the crisis, though he refrained from disclosing how Pakistan’s military might intervene.
He reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with Riyadh following a thwarted Houthi drone attack near the holy city. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that there is no need for a formal agreement to protect Islam’s holiest site, emphasising that safeguarding Mecca is an absolute duty regardless of pacts.
Speaking to Geo News, Khawaja Asif said Pakistan was bound by the defence agreement it signed with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye in August.
If Makkah is attacked, there is no need for an agreement to protect it,” Asif said. Asif said there was “absolutely no ambiguity” over Pakistan’s obligations if the territory of one of the three countries was attacked. Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone south of Mecca before it entered the holy city’s restricted airspace. Saudi coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said the protection of Mecca was a “red line”.
“The Makkah Agreement applies to us, and we will fulfil our duty. However, he refused to disclose what Pakistan’s military response could involve. The Saudi-led coalition blamed Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis for the drone. The Houthis denied targeting Mecca or any other Islamic holy site. The incident came as fighting between Saudi forces and the Houthis has intensified in and around Yemen.
