Shafaqna Pakistan: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday that there should be no doubt that an attack on any member of the Makkah Defence Alliance — comprising Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye — would be treated as an attack on all three countries. He also warned that the pact could be activated following attacks on Saudi Arabia.
His remarks came after Yemen’s Houthis targeted cities and economic infrastructure in southern Saudi Arabia, reportedly injuring at least 73 civilians. The strikes raised concerns over a possible expansion of the conflict and further instability in the region.
Pakistan condemned the attacks on Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran as a violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while reaffirming its full support for the Kingdom’s security, sovereignty, territorial integrity and prosperity.
Speaking on the television programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath, Asif said any unprovoked aggression or spillover of the Yemen conflict into Saudi Arabia would trigger the defence agreement.
“There should be no ambiguity; there is no need for any clarity that this is a joint defence agreement,” he said.
“There should be no doubt about this. We are bound by the terms and conditions of this pact and, God willing, we will honour them in case there is a need,” the minister added.
Asif said he had no information about any contact between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia regarding the recent attacks.
He explained that the agreement provided for mutual assistance in the event of aggression.
“This is not an aggressive agreement under which the three countries would, on their own initiative, attack another country. But if there is any aggression against one member state, all three member states will respond,” he said.
The minister expressed hope that the situation would normalise and tensions would subside while cautioning the Houthis that they would have to realise that their internal affairs could have consequences if they attempted to export the conflict beyond Yemen.
“If they try to export them, the clauses of this agreement to counter aggression will become operative,” he said.
He said Saudi Arabia should not be dragged into what he described as an internal dispute in Yemen.
The minister recalled a similar situation in 2014, when Yemen attacked Saudi Arabia, saying Pakistan had supported the kingdom even though there was no formal agreement between the countries at the time.
He attributed Pakistan’s support to the sanctity of Saudi Arabia and the close relations between the two countries.
Despite the continuing deterioration in the situation, Asif said he remained hopeful that a path to peace would emerge and that the doors to dialogue had not been closed.
“The path to peace will certainly emerge, and the doors have not been closed,” he said, adding that he would not abandon hope that the situation had reached a complete deadlock or that all avenues had been shut.
He said indirect contacts with the parties were already taking place.
“We want to create an environment in which there is peace in the region because the entire region is at stake,” he said, adding that Israel would want to continue the conflict.
“I believe the global conscience is awake and the pressure of this global conscience will ensure that peace is ultimately established in the region, and Israel will eventually pay the price,” he concluded.
Source: Express Tribune
