Pakistan’s Foreign Office has clarified its position after recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. Spokesperson Ambassador Sajjad Haider Khan stated that more time is still required to fully put the Makkah defence pact into action.
The agreement was signed on 7 August between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. It commits the three countries to collective defence. An armed attack on any one of them will be treated as an attack on all. The pact aims to strengthen security cooperation in a region already facing rising tensions.
At the weekly press briefing, Ambassador Khan explained that Pakistani forces currently stationed in Saudi Arabia are there only for training and logistical support. He added that further details of defence cooperation under the new arrangement will be shared in the coming period.
The statement came in direct response to questions about how Pakistan intends to meet its obligations after the Houthi attacks on Saudi territory. Officials made clear that the Makkah defence pact remains a priority, yet practical steps toward full implementation need additional time and coordination among the three partners.
The agreement was reached against the backdrop of heightened instability in the Middle East. Tensions escalated after joint military actions involving the United States and Israel against Iran that began on 28 February. Those developments have increased concerns about wider regional conflict and the need for stronger collective security arrangements.
Pakistan has long maintained close defence ties with Saudi Arabia. The presence of its personnel for training purposes reflects this ongoing partnership. The new trilateral framework with Turkiye expands that relationship into a formal collective defence commitment.
Ambassador Khan’s remarks underline that while the political will exists, the operational side of the Makkah defence pact requires careful preparation. Training, logistics and command structures must be aligned before the full scope of the agreement can take effect.
For now, Pakistan continues to support Saudi Arabia through existing channels while working with both Riyadh and Ankara to move the Makkah defence pact forward. Officials expect more concrete measures to emerge once the necessary groundwork is completed.
