Pakistan Warns Makkah Defence Alliance May Become Operational Amid Escalating Houthi Attacks

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that the Makkah Defence Alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye could become operational if there is a spillover of conflict in Yemen into Riyadh.

This warning comes after Houthi rebels launched attacks on oil installations in Saudi Arabia, injuring 73 people.

The tripartite defence pact, signed on August 7, aims to strengthen collective deterrence and empower its signatory states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all.

Asif stated that there was no 'ambiguity' in the pact, which stipulates that aggression against one party is equivalent to aggression against all. He said that Pakistan would honour the terms and conditions of the pact if there is a need.