{
  "id": 6403853,
  "title": "Asif warns Makkah defence pact could become operational after Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/asif-warns-makkah-defence-pact-could-become-operational-after-houthi-6403853",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T08:47:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2028592/asif-warns-makkah-defence-pact-could-become-operational-after-houthi-attacks-on-saudi-arabia"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that the tripartite Makkah Defence Alliance, comprising Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, could become operational in response to spillover from the Yemen conflict reaching Riyadh. This comes after Yemen's Houthi rebels launched attacks on Saudi Arabian oil installations on Tuesday, injuring 73 people. The defence pact, signed on August 7, aims to strengthen collective deterrence and empower signatory states to treat an attack against one as an attack against all. During an appearance on the Geo News show 'Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath', Asif confirmed that the pact would be operationalized in the face of such aggression, stating \"there should be no doubt in this.\" He reiterated Pakistan's commitment to respond under the pact, should the need arise. Asif also expressed hope that the situation will \"come under control and die down,\" and warned that the Houthis were \"non-state actors\" and exploiting a bilateral dispute at their own peril. The defense minister noted that the conflict in Yemen has been ongoing since 2014 and recalled a previous visit to the country to support Saudi Arabia. He expressed optimism that indirect engagement between the United States and Iran could pave the way for peace, while also cautioning that Israel profits from the conflict.",
  "summary": "Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has cautioned that the tripartite Makkah Defence Alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye could become operational if there was a “spillover” of the conflict in Yemen into Riyadh. The development comes as Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched attacks on oil installations in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, injuring 73 people. Meanwhile, the defence pact , signed on Aug…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn - Pakistan",
        "title": "Asif warns Makkah defence pact could become operational after Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/asif-warns-makkah-defence-pact-could-become-operational-after-houthi",
        "published": "2026-09-09T08:47:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Makkah defence pact may activate over Saudi aggression: Asif",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/makkah-defence-pact-may-activate-over-saudi-aggression-asif",
        "published": "2026-09-09T14:36:24.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}