{
  "id": 6425723,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T14:36:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Times",
    "slug": "daily-times",
    "url": "https://dailytimes.com.pk/1550484/makkah-defence-pact-may-activate-over-saudi-aggression-asif/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has stated that a joint defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye could become operational if the conflict in Yemen spills into Saudi Arabia. The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed on August 7, is a collective defence arrangement that considers an attack against one party as an attack against all.\n\nThe comments come after Houthi forces launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting cities and economic infrastructure, and injuring 73 people at oil installations. According to Asif, there is no ambiguity in the pact, which stipulates that aggression against one party is equivalent to aggression against all.\n\nAsif said Pakistan is bound by the terms and conditions of the pact and will honour them if needed. He was not aware of any engagement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan following the attacks. The defence pact aims to strengthen collective deterrence among its signatory states.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "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"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}