Pakistan vows to defend ally Saudi ‘to any extent’

Riyadh has accused the Houthi rebels of launching a "cowardly" assault on Mecca, Islam's most sacred city. Pakistan's military spokesman, Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has declared that his nation will defend its ally Saudi Arabia "to any extent" in response to the escalating attacks from Yemen's Houthi forces. Recently, Saudi Arabia reported fresh aerial strikes attributed to the Houthis, following an incident where the kingdom accused the group of launching an assault on Mecca, causing widespread indignation across the Muslim world.

During an interview with Arab News on Thursday, Pakistan's military spokesman highlighted that Pakistan will support Saudi Arabia both diplomatically and physically. He emphasized that Pakistan's commitment to the security of Mecca and other holy sanctuaries, as well as the Saudi kingdom, is unwavering. This commitment was formalized through the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement signed last month by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

The agreement underscores a mutual defense pact among the three countries in the face of potential attacks, particularly amid the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, as well as the ongoing conflict involving Tehran-backed Houthi rebels in the region.