Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia could activate the collective defence mechanism established under the Makkah Defence Pact involving Pakistan, KSA and Turkiye.
Speaking at a programme on a private channel on Tuesday night, Asif said the agreement clearly treats an attack on any one of the three signatories as an attack on all members.
“Under the trilateral agreement, aggression against one country is considered aggression against all three,” the minister said, stressing that the pact left no room for ambiguity.
His remarks came after Houthi forces launched attacks on several Saudi cities on Tuesday, reportedly injuring at least 71 people and adding to concerns over escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Asif said any unprovoked attack or conflict spilling over from Yemen into Saudi territory would “definitely” activate the defence arrangement. He maintained that Pakistan was committed to fulfilling its obligations under the agreement if circumstances required it.
At the same time, the defence minister expressed hope that the situation would be contained and that tensions would gradually ease.
The Makkah Defence Alliance was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on August 7 to strengthen cooperation in defence and collective security. The agreement came amid growing regional tensions following the conflict that erupted on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran.
Turning to Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts involving Washington and Tehran, Asif said Islamabad was continuing its attempts to facilitate peace and reduce tensions.
He said Pakistan was seeking conditions conducive to de-escalation, adding that contacts between the parties were continuing, although some of them remained indirect.
Pakistan has played an active mediating role between the United States and Iran. Islamabad secured a significant diplomatic breakthrough on June 15 when Tehran and Washington signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at promoting peace in the region.
Since then, Pakistan has continued efforts to facilitate communication between the two sides and encourage negotiations, de-escalation and a peaceful settlement.
Asif also suggested that Israel would prefer the confrontation between Iran and the United States to persist. Nevertheless, he said he remained hopeful that growing international pressure would help move the region towards peace.
“Peace will eventually come to the region, and Israel will have to bear a cost,” the defence minister said.
