Pakistan has warned that its newly signed defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye could become operational if Houthi attacks on the kingdom continue or the conflict in Yemen spills further into Saudi territory.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Islamabad was bound by the terms of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and would honour its commitments if Saudi Arabia faced aggression. His remarks came after a major Houthi missile and drone assault on southern Saudi Arabia left 73 people injured and targeted energy and military infrastructure.
Pakistan Signals Collective Defence Response
Speaking to Pakistani media, Asif said there should be no ambiguity about Pakistan's obligations under the agreement.
He said that unprovoked aggression against a member state, or a spillover of the Yemen conflict into Saudi Arabia, could make the pact operational. Pakistan's defence minister also stressed that Islamabad would act according to the agreement's terms if such a situation arose.
The warning marks a significant development because the three-country defence agreement was signed only last month and is now being tested by an escalating regional conflict.
Makkah Agreement Treats Attack on One as Attack on All
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7, committing to strengthen collective deterrence and defence cooperation.
According to Pakistan's official account of the agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three countries is to be regarded as an attack against all three. The pact also calls for enhanced cooperation across defence-related areas.
The exact military mechanisms for implementing the agreement, however, have not been publicly detailed.
Houthi Attacks Hit Saudi Energy and Military Sites
The warning from Islamabad followed a coordinated Houthi attack on September 8 that targeted several locations in southern Saudi Arabia.
The Iran-aligned Yemeni group attacked areas including Abha, Khamis Mushait, Najran and Jazan. Saudi authorities said 73 people were injured, while fires and operational disruptions were reported at energy facilities. Targets included installations associated with Saudi oil giant Aramco and an air base.
The attacks represent one of the most serious recent escalations between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, after years of relative calm following the UN-backed truce that reduced large-scale fighting in Yemen in 2022.
Pakistan Condemns Houthi Strikes
Islamabad has already publicly condemned the attacks.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry described the strikes on civilian and economic targets in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran as a violation of Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
It also reiterated Pakistan's support for Saudi Arabia's right under international law to defend its territory, citizens and national assets.
However, Pakistan's position also reflects an effort to avoid being drawn unnecessarily into a wider regional conflict. Reuters reported that Islamabad has warned Iran to rein in the Houthis while emphasising that Pakistan's role under the defence arrangement is focused on protecting Saudi territory.
Yemen Conflict Raises Wider Regional Risks
The renewed fighting is unfolding against the backdrop of a much broader Middle East crisis involving Iran, the United States and other regional actors.
The Houthis have also threatened Saudi shipping and increased pressure around the Red Sea, while the Bab al-Mandeb Strait remains a strategically important route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
Any sustained disruption could have consequences beyond Yemen and Saudi Arabia, particularly for energy markets and international shipping. Recent Houthi attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure have already contributed to concerns over regional oil supplies.
What Happens Next?
For now, Pakistan has not announced that it is deploying forces to Saudi Arabia. Asif's comments amount to a warning that the collective-defence provisions could be activated if the conflict crosses the threshold outlined by the agreement.
That distinction is important. The Makkah pact creates a framework for collective security, but the circumstances and operational steps that would follow an attack have not been publicly set out in detail.
With Houthi attacks and Saudi military responses escalating, the immediate concern is whether the conflict remains contained within the existing Yemen-Saudi confrontation or develops into a wider regional military crisis involving Pakistan and Türkiye.
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