Pakistan says time has come to implement Mecca defence pact

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has stated that the time has come to implement the Mecca defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey amid the intensifying Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Speaking to Geo News on Wednesday, Asif emphasized Pakistan's commitment to defending Saudi Arabia and the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, asserting that Islamabad has a duty to protect these sites even without the agreement.

While Houthi officials deny targeting the holy city, Asif also mentioned that Pakistan has conveyed a Saudi message to Iran, expressing concern over the attacks in Riyadh. He stated that Iran, as a state, is unlikely to open another front, given its ongoing involvement in a regional war. Saudi Arabia reported the first death since intensified Houthi attacks on the kingdom, with a Yemeni resident killed after a drone was intercepted in Taif.

Pakistan has sought to position itself as a regional mediator, facilitating talks between Washington and Tehran, while also strengthening its military ties with Saudi Arabia and Turkey.