Pakistan Vows to Honour Defence Pact if Saudi Arabia Comes Under Attack

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said Islamabad would be required to respond if Saudi Arabia came under attack, citing the terms of the recently signed Mecca Defence Alliance. Speaking to Geo News, Asif said the agreement clearly obliges its members to support one another in the event of aggression. He stressed that there should be “no ambiguity” about Pakistan’s commitment to the pact.

His remarks came amid renewed tensions in the region after Saudi Arabia temporarily shut several energy facilities in its southern areas following attacks claimed by Iran-aligned Houthi militants based in Yemen. The latest strikes came as Iran signalled that it could adopt a tougher military stance toward the United States after restructuring parts of its military leadership around what it described as an “offensive doctrine.”

Asif warned that continued Houthi attacks on Saudi territory could potentially trigger the defence agreement. He said the group should understand that further attempts to involve Saudi Arabia in Yemen’s conflict could lead to the pact being activated. The defence arrangement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey was signed in Mecca last month. Asif said he did not know whether Saudi authorities had formally requested assistance from Islamabad, but maintained that Pakistan remained obligated to act in accordance with the agreement.

According to the minister, the pact is designed as a defensive arrangement rather than an offensive alliance. Its central principle is that an attack on one member could be treated as an attack on all, requiring a collective response. Asif also pointed to Pakistan’s longstanding military relationship with Saudi Arabia, saying Islamabad had supported Riyadh well before the new agreement was signed. He cited Pakistan’s previous involvement in Saudi-led security efforts during the Yemen conflict, which began after the Houthis captured the Yemeni capital and displaced the internationally recognised government.

At the same time, Asif expressed hope that diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions between the United States and Iran could still succeed. Although negotiations appeared to have reached a difficult stage, he said he remained optimistic that a peaceful outcome was possible. Describing the diplomatic process as a “tight-rope walk,” Asif said the situation was difficult but appeared to be somewhat better than a complete deadlock. The latest developments underline the delicate balance Islamabad faces: maintaining its longstanding strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia while avoiding a wider military confrontation that could further destabilise the region.

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