Pakistan Says Mecca Pact Could Activate Over Houthis
Pakistan has warned that continued Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia could trigger the recently signed Mecca Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, as fighting in Yemen spills deeper into the wider Middle East conflict.
Pakistan Warns Mecca Defence Pact Could Be Activated
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the agreement could become operational if Saudi Arabia faced unprovoked aggression or if the conflict in Yemen spilled into Saudi territory.
Asif said Pakistan was bound by the terms of the pact and would honour its commitments if required. However, no formal activation of the defence agreement or Pakistani military intervention has been announced.
The three countries signed the agreement last month, establishing a collective defence principle under which an attack against one member would be treated as an attack against all.
Houthi Attacks Wound 73 in Saudi Arabia
Pakistan’s warning follows major Houthi missile and drone attacks on southern Saudi Arabia.
Saudi authorities said at least 73 people were wounded as strikes targeted areas including Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran. Military and oil infrastructure were among the reported targets.
The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen and are aligned with Iran, say their operations are retaliation for Saudi military actions in Yemen.
Yemen Fighting Threatens Wider Regional Escalation
Hostilities between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces have intensified sharply after years of relative calm following a UN-brokered truce in 2022.
Fighting has spread around Taiz, Hodeidah and routes leading towards the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The Mecca pact adds a new dimension to the conflict by potentially drawing Pakistan and Turkiye into Saudi Arabia’s defence if attacks on the kingdom continue, although the agreement’s exact military implementation mechanisms remain unclear.
