Pakistan Says Mecca Defence Pact Could Be Triggered by Houthi Strikes on Saudi Arabia

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the newly signed Mecca Joint Defence Agreement could come into effect if Saudi Arabia faces continued attacks, following a series of missile strikes launched by Yemen's Houthi movement against the kingdom.

Speaking to Pakistani outlet Geo News on Tuesday night, Asif said that any unprovoked act of aggression against Saudi Arabia, or an expansion of the conflict in Yemen into Saudi territory, would trigger the Mecca agreement. He added that Pakistan would fully respect its obligations under the pact should the need arise.

The comments came after Houthi forces struck targets in southern Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, with Saudi authorities reporting at least 73 people wounded. The attack comes amid escalating conflict between the Iran-aligned Houthi group and forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognised government, which receives Saudi backing.

The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement was signed last month by the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan, with the three countries pledging to strengthen joint deterrence against acts of aggression. Under the agreement, an attack on one signatory would be treated as an attack on all three, similar to NATO's mutual defence principle, although the specific procedures for enacting this commitment have not yet been outlined.

The pact was formed as the three nations respond to rising tensions across the region, including concerns about Israel's expanding military power and Iran's growing regional influence. According to the 2026 Global Firepower Index, which evaluates the military capabilities of 145 nations, the combined forces of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan include close to 1.4 million active troops, around 3,400 military aircraft, 6,000 tanks and more than 340 naval vessels.