Pakistan says time has come to implement Mecca defence pact

Pakistan's Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, has stated that the time has come to implement the Mecca defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, amid intensifying Houthi attacks on the kingdom. According to Asif, Pakistan remains committed to defending Saudi Arabia and the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, and considers it a duty to protect them, with or without the agreement.

The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed in 2026 by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, is a collective defence pact that commits each nation to treat an attack against one as an attack against all. Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson, Sajjad Haider Khan, has also reaffirmed the country's commitment to implementing the agreement, while emphasising the need for discretion regarding operational details.

Pakistan has conveyed a Saudi message to Iran, detailing concerns over Houthi attacks, and continues to advocate for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve differences and prevent further escalation. The country remains concerned over the continuing escalation and its implications for regional peace, security, and global energy supplies.

Brief written by urgent.news from Middle East Eye, Egypt Independent, Business Recorder — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.