Defence minister says Pakistan is committed to defending Saudi Arabia and its holy cities, even without the pact
Published : 18 Sep 2026, 12:49 AM
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said the time has come to activate the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye as Houthi attacks on the kingdom escalate, Middle East Eye reports.
Speaking to Geo News on Wednesday, Asif said Pakistan remained committed to defending Saudi Arabia and the holy cities of Makkah and Madina, saying Islamabad had a duty to protect them even without the pact.
“Makkah Agreement applies to us, and we will fulfil our duty,” he was quoted as saying by Middle East Eye.
The Houthis have denied targeting Makkah.
“Our operations target [Saudi] oil facilities and military bases, which are far removed from the sacred sites,” spokesman Yahya Saree said, according to Middle East Eye.
The comments came after Saudi state television reported that a drone intercepted over the southwestern governorate of Taif on Thursday killed one person and injured two others.
The Middle East Eye identified the deceased as a Yemeni resident, as Saudi civil defence said the Houthis had launched the drone.
It was the first death reported in Saudi Arabia this month since the attacks intensified.
Pakistan has sought to cast itself as a regional mediator after facilitating Washington-Tehran talks, while strengthening military ties with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.
On Aug 7, the three countries signed the Joint Defence Agreement in Makkah, under which an attack on one would be treated as an attack on all, Middle East Eye reported.
The agreement prompted comparisons with Nato’s Article 5, though analysts cautioned against reading the provision “too literally”.
