No stipulation in Makkah pact bars 'direct involvement' in case of threat to a member: Asif

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif clarified on Thursday that the Makkah Defence Alliance, comprising Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, does not prohibit member states from directly participating in the defence of a fellow member in the event of a threat. This stance was discussed during an ARY News programme, 'Khabar Muhammad Malick Ke Saath', where Asif was questioned about the potential deployment of ground troops by Pakistan in Yemen, following the ongoing conflict between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.

The Makkah Defence Pact, signed on August 7, was established to fortify collective deterrence and empower its signatory states to consider any attack on one member as an attack on all. Its significance has grown in light of the renewed fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. Following a meeting in Riyadh, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey agreed to the prompt deployment of military forces in the kingdom to tackle the security threats faced by Saudi Arabia.

Upon returning to Pakistan, Asif reiterated on Geo News via telephone that Pakistan and Turkey had a presence in the region, although only Saudi troops were actively engaged in combat operations. He also affirmed that Pakistani troops had been in Saudi Arabia for decades across various domains. Earlier, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations, confirmed that Pakistani troops were present in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the country's unconditional commitment to the kingdom's security.

Asif further affirmed that Pakistan would "practically and diplomatically" support Saudi Arabia against the Yemeni Houthi rebels should the situation escalate. The defence minister emphasized that the alliance is primarily a defensive measure aimed at collective deterrence. Meanwhile, the Information Ministry has dismissed a news report alleging that Pakistani Air Force aircraft are being used against the Houthis as 'fake and fabricated', and has also labeled a Reuters report about the deployment of 30,000 to 40,000 Pakistani troops in Saudi Arabia as 'speculative'.