Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stating that there is “no ambiguity” over Islamabad’s obligations under the pact. His comments came after Saudi authorities reported that their air defences had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of the holy city of Mecca.
Speaking to Geo News, Asif said the Makkah Agreement applies to Pakistan and that the country would fulfil its responsibilities under the arrangement. He also stressed that Pakistan’s duty to protect the Islamic holy sites would exist regardless of the agreement.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in Mecca on August 7, 2026. The agreement establishes a framework for collective deterrence and provides that an armed attack against any one of the three participating countries would be regarded as an attack against all three.
Asif said the agreement would apply in circumstances involving a violation of the territorial integrity or geographical boundaries of any of the three signatories. However, he declined to disclose details of Pakistan’s potential military or defence strategy.
The latest statements followed a security incident reported by Saudi Arabia on September 16, when its air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered the city’s restricted airspace. The Houthis have denied targeting Mecca or any Islamic holy site.
The incident comes amid continuing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi movement in Yemen. Recent attacks have included missile and drone strikes against Saudi territory and infrastructure, while concerns have also grown over the wider security situation around the Red Sea and Gulf region.
Pakistan has also communicated Saudi Arabia’s concerns to Iran, according to Asif. The Pakistani defence minister said Islamabad would continue diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing the conflict from expanding into additional areas of the region.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has separately reiterated Islamabad’s support for Saudi Arabia following the recent attacks. The developments have brought renewed attention to the practical scope of the newly signed trilateral defence arrangement as regional security tensions continue.