- September 9, 2026
- Posted by: Tresmark
- Category:
No Comments
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye could be activated if the conflict in Yemen spreads into Saudi territory.
Speaking in a television interview, Asif said the agreement provides for collective defence, with an attack on any one of the three member states to be treated as aggression against all members.
The minister said Pakistan would honour its commitments under the agreement if Saudi Arabia faced unprovoked aggression or if the Yemen conflict spilled over into the kingdom. He stressed that the pact was designed to strengthen collective security and deterrence rather than promote military aggression.
His comments came after Houthi rebels reportedly carried out attacks on several locations in southern Saudi Arabia, leaving more than 70 people injured and causing damage to energy-related infrastructure.
Asif said the three countries possess significant defence capabilities and would not necessarily have to respond to an attack through direct military escalation. He added that the agreement itself could act as a deterrent against further aggression.
Highlighting Pakistan’s longstanding relationship with Saudi Arabia, Asif said Islamabad had supported the kingdom during previous periods of instability, including when the Yemen conflict intensified in 2014.
The defence minister expressed hope that tensions would ease and that the Houthis would avoid extending the conflict into Saudi territory.
Commenting on the broader regional situation, Asif said Pakistan remained hopeful for a settlement to the ongoing US-Iran standoff. He described the negotiations as being at an impasse but said indirect contacts between the sides were continuing.
Asif acknowledged that Pakistan faced a challenging diplomatic position due to its close relations with countries on both sides of the conflict, stressing that regional peace and stability remained the priority.
