Pakistan pledges full military backing to Saudi Arabia under Mecca pact after deadly Houthi strikes

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has pledged to offer full military assistance to Saudi Arabia following Houthi attacks that killed 12 people and injured over 300 others at Riyadh and Abha airports. Sharif denounced the strikes as "heinous" and noted that Pakistan has bilateral and trilateral defense agreements with the kingdom, including the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

This agreement stipulates that an attack on one member country is seen as an attack on all, and Pakistan has deployed its forces to Saudi Arabia under this pact. The Pakistani military states that these forces are engaged in various capacities in the kingdom. Sharif emphasized that Pakistan will not stand idly by in the face of aggression and highlighted the shared responsibility of Muslims worldwide to protect the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

He also described the Houthi attacks as a "red line" in this context. Sharif expressed hope for a peaceful resolution to the crisis, but reiterated that Pakistan stands in solidarity with Saudi Arabia and will cooperate in any way possible. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry also condemned the attack on the civilian airport, calling it a terrorist act and a violation of international law that threatens regional peace and security.