Makkah Defence Pact Reaches Crucial Phase Amid Saudi Attacks: Khawaja Asif

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif says the security situation surrounding Saudi Arabia has reached a stage where the Makkah Defence Alliance could become operational, pledging that Pakistan and Türkiye would stand with the kingdom if aggression escalates.

Speaking on a private television programme on Wednesday, Asif said the trilateral agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye was based on mutual defence, with aggression against one member bringing obligations for the other two.

His comments follow a series of Houthi attacks against Saudi territory and a Saudi announcement this week that air defences had intercepted a drone south of Makkah before it entered prohibited airspace over the holy city.

Pakistan, Türkiye Would Stand With Saudi Arabia

Asif said that if the situation escalated, Pakistan and Türkiye would stand with Saudi Arabia both “practically and diplomatically.”

He described the agreement as mutual and said an attack on one member would require all three countries to respond under the pact.

The defence minister said there was “absolutely no ambiguity” over Pakistan’s commitments.

According to Asif, the pact covers violations of the geographical boundaries of any of the three countries and requires the members to jointly confront aggression.

The agreement was signed on August 7, 2026, and provides that an attack on one member is to be treated as an attack on all three. Its inaugural meeting was subsequently held in Istanbul on August 31.

Asif Separates Pact From Protection of Holy Sites

Asif drew a distinction between Pakistan’s formal commitments under the trilateral defence agreement and what he described as the country’s religious obligation concerning Makkah and Madinah.

He said Pakistan would regard the protection of the holy cities as a duty even in the absence of a formal agreement.

The minister said defending the sacred sites did not, in his view, depend on the existence of the Makkah Defence Alliance.

This portion of Asif’s remarks represents his stated religious and policy position and should be distinguished from the formal legal provisions of the defence agreement.

Pact Is ‘Purely Defensive’, Says Pakistan Military

Asif’s comments come alongside further clarification from Pakistan’s military about the nature of the alliance.

Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said this week that the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement has “no regional aspirations” and is intended to provide collective deterrence.

The military spokesperson described the arrangement as purely defensive, saying it contains no offensive or aggressive element and does not seek to interfere in other countries.

He said the pact formalises Pakistan’s longstanding defence relationships with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye while remaining complementary to the three countries’ other international relationships.

This clarification is significant amid concerns that escalating fighting involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis could draw other regional countries more deeply into the conflict.

Earlier Houthi Attacks Raised Activation Question

Asif had already warned earlier this month that the Makkah Defence Alliance could become operational if attacks against Saudi Arabia continued.

After Houthi attacks on Saudi cities and economic infrastructure last week, he said an attack on one member of the alliance would be considered an attack on all three.

At that stage, however, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said military action was not under discussion, while reaffirming that Islamabad would fulfil its commitments under the pact if required.

The latest comments therefore indicate a heightened assessment by the defence minister, but they do not constitute an announcement that Pakistan or Türkiye has begun military operations under the agreement.

What Has Changed?

The immediate context is the escalating threat to Saudi territory.

Asif now says he believes circumstances have reached the point where implementation of the pact is relevant, and that further escalation would bring practical and diplomatic support from Pakistan and Türkiye.

He did not publicly explain what “practical” support could involve.

When asked whether the three countries were discussing a joint response to recent attacks, Asif declined to disclose details, saying defence or military strategy could not be openly discussed.

There has consequently been no publicly announced Pakistani or Turkish combat deployment or joint military operation under the Makkah pact in the reporting reviewed.

What About Pakistan-Iran Relations?

Asif was also asked about the implications for Pakistan’s relations with Iran, given Tehran’s relationship with Yemen’s Houthis.

He said he did not expect Iran to damage its relationships with other countries because of a third party involved in Yemen and argued that doing so would amount to a diplomatic mistake.

The comments underline the diplomatic challenge facing Islamabad: maintaining its commitments to Saudi Arabia under the trilateral defence arrangement while navigating relations with Iran during a widening Middle East crisis.

Asif did not announce any change in Pakistan’s diplomatic relationship with Tehran.

Alliance Moving Towards Institutional Structure

The Makkah Defence Alliance has already moved beyond the original signing ceremony.

Following its inaugural Istanbul meeting, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye agreed to strengthen coordination between their armed forces through joint activities, defence-industry cooperation and joint technology development and production.

Pakistan was also selected to initially head the alliance’s secretariat for three years, according to previously announced arrangements.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office has said expansion of the alliance is not currently on the agenda, with the three founding countries first seeking to consolidate their own cooperation.

What Is Confirmed — and What Is Not?

The latest statements establish that Asif believes the security situation has reached a stage where the pact’s implementation is relevant, and he says Pakistan would honour its commitments if the situation escalates.

It is also confirmed that the agreement provides for collective defence among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.

However, no publicly disclosed decision confirms that the three countries have launched a joint military operation, deployed forces under the pact or agreed on a specific military response to the latest attacks.

The most accurate current framing is therefore that Pakistan’s defence minister says the Makkah Defence Pact has entered a crucial implementation phase amid escalating threats to Saudi Arabia, while operational details remain undisclosed.