Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that the Makkah Defence Pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye could become operational if Yemen’s conflict spills into Riyadh. His remarks came shortly after Houthi rebels struck oil installations inside Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, wounding 73 people.
Speaking on a Geo News programme, Asif said there was no ambiguity in the pact’s terms. He explained that aggression against one signatory would be treated as aggression against all three nations. The agreement, signed on Aug 7, aims to strengthen collective deterrence among its members.
Asif said Pakistan remains bound by the pact’s conditions and will honour them if needed. However, he added that he was unaware of any direct contact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan following the attacks. Still, he stressed that Islamabad is committed to joint defence under the agreement.
The minister also described the pact as defensive rather than aggressive in nature. He said all three states would respond together only if one member faced unprovoked aggression. Additionally, he noted that even a bilateral arrangement would have prompted the same response.
Asif expressed hope that tensions would ease and eventually settle down. He also urged the Houthis to recognise the consequences of exporting their internal conflict elsewhere. Meanwhile, he pointed out that the group operates as a non-state actor, separate from Yemen’s government.
He further noted widespread sympathy for Iran across the Muslim world. Even so, he warned that non-state actors exploiting regional disputes do so at their own risk. The minister recalled Pakistan’s past support for Saudi Arabia during the Yemen conflict since 2014.
On US-Iran talks, Asif remained cautiously optimistic despite the current stalemate. He said indirect engagement continues, and hope for diplomacy has not disappeared. Finally, he criticised Israel for prolonging regional conflict while other nations bear the cost.
I condemn in the strongest terms, the cowardly attack by Houthis targeting civilian and energy facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which have left many people injured.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) September 8, 2026
Pakistan stands in unwavering solidarity with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King…
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the Houthi attacks and reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia. The Foreign Office separately issued a statement calling the strikes reprehensible and a threat to regional peace.
