Pakistan has clarified that no military response under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement is currently under discussion. However, Islamabad says it will honour the pact if circumstances require action.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan made the remarks during a weekly media briefing on Thursday. He was responding to questions about Pakistan’s obligations under the defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
“There is no such thing under discussion right now … When time comes (we) will act under the agreement,” he said.
The clarification comes after Iran-backed Houthis launched attacks on Saudi cities and energy infrastructure this week. By Thursday, the attacks had added another theatre to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Pakistan has condemned the attacks and warned Iran to rein in its Yemeni Houthi allies. However, Islamabad has not provided details about any possible response under the defence agreement.
What Does the Makkah Defence Agreement Say?
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7. Under the pact, an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be treated as an attack against all.
Therefore, questions have emerged about how Pakistan would respond following the attacks on Saudi Arabia.
The Foreign Office spokesperson described the Makkah agreement as a “defensive alliance”. He also said there were currently no plans to expand the agreement.
The pact commits the three countries to strengthen collective security. It also provides for greater defence cooperation across areas including joint military exercises, information exchange and defence industry collaboration.
In addition, the agreement calls for a permanent secretariat in Saudi Arabia. Pakistan will provide the first secretary general for a three-year term.
The agreement has been described by the three countries as defensive in nature. Its stated purpose is to support regional peace, stability and deterrence rather than target any particular country.
Defence Minister Says Pact Could Become Operational
The Foreign Office clarification follows comments by Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif a day earlier.
Asif said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement could become operational if the conflict in Yemen spilled over into Saudi Arabia.
Speaking in a television interview, he described the agreement as a collective defence arrangement. Under its terms, aggression against one member would be treated as aggression against all three.
“There should be no doubt” that the pact would become operational in case of unprovoked aggression or a spillover of the Yemen conflict into Saudi Arabia, he said.
Asif further said Pakistan was bound by the agreement and would honour its commitments if the need arose. He stressed that the pact was designed for joint defence and collective assistance rather than aggression.
For now, however, the Foreign Office says no military response under the agreement is being discussed. Pakistan’s position remains that it will act under the pact when the circumstances require it.
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