Pakistani Defense Minister: Any attack on Saudi Arabia would activate the 'Mecca Agreement' - Sarmad

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif affirmed that any attack on Saudi Arabia would trigger the provisions of the “Mecca Agreement” between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, stressing that the three countries are committed to responding if any of them is attacked.

In statements to Pakistani television, Asif said there should be “no ambiguity” regarding the nature of the agreement, clarifying that an attack on any of the three countries constitutes an attack on all of them, and that Pakistan is bound by the agreement’s terms and will fulfill its obligations if necessary.

The Pakistani Defense Minister explained that the agreement is not aimed at launching attacks on other countries, but is based on the principle of collective defense and responding to any aggression faced by one of the member states.

He stated that the three countries would not initiate attacks on any party, but “if aggression occurs against one of the member states, the three countries will respond.”

Asif’s comments came in the wake of Houthi attacks on cities, facilities, and civilian and economic targets in Saudi Arabia, which resulted in 73 civilian casualties, according to Saudi authorities.

Asif warned against allowing the conflict in Yemen to spill over into Saudi territory, emphasizing that continued attacks outside Yemen could lead to the activation of the agreement’s provisions regarding the confrontation of aggression. He also stressed that Pakistan hopes to de-escalate the situation and prevent the conflict from widening in the region.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey signed a mutual defense agreement in Mecca last August, stipulating that any armed attack on one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all of them. The three countries subsequently held the first meeting of the political, strategic, and defense committee tasked with implementing the agreement.