Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye Sign Makkah Defence Pact Amid Houthi Attacks

Pakistan’s military spokesman Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan is providing whatever support Saudi Arabia needs to defend itself against attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. He stressed that the security of the kingdom and the Two Holy Mosques is paramount and non-negotiable for Pakistan.

The spokesman said public reaction in Pakistan, from ordinary citizens to the political and military leadership, is one of anger over the attacks on Saudi Arabia and the holy places. He declared there can be no “ifs and buts” on the security of the holy sites.

“Whatever support is needed to do that is being provided and will be provided.”

Islamabad and Riyadh have signed two defence pacts: the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between them and the Makkah Joint Defence Alliance, which also includes Türkiye. The alliance has no offensive intent and is purely defensive.

Türkiye has submitted the Makkah pact to its parliament for ratification, according to three parliamentary sources cited by Reuters. Signed in August, the agreement treats an armed attack against one signatory as an attack against all three and requires members to provide assistance against external aggression.

The pact refers to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter on collective self-defence and resembles NATO’s Article 5 on collective defence. The nature and scope of assistance will depend on an objective assessment of the circumstances and each country’s available resources.