Pakistan says "time has come" to activate Mecca pact after Houthi attack
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Following an intercepted aerial threat near Mecca, Pakistan reaffirmed its commitments to Saudi Arabia while maintaining diplomatic efforts with Iran.
- The statement follows Tuesday's interception of an explosive Houthi drone operating south of Mecca before it could enter the holy city's restricted airspace.
Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that the time has come to activate the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
The declaration follows an incident on Tuesday where Saudi air defense forces intercepted and destroyed an explosive-laden Houthi drone operating south of Mecca before it entered the holy city's restricted airspace.
Speaking during an interview on Pakistan’s Geo News, Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif underscored Islamabad’s unwavering commitment to defending Saudi Arabia and its sacred sites.
"The Mecca Agreement applies to us, and we will fulfill our duty," Asif said, emphasizing that protecting Islam's holiest locations remains a fundamental obligation for Pakistan even independent of formal military pacts.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan's stance, offering full support for the kingdom's defense while condemning the attempted drone strike near Mecca. However, Sharif urged all regional parties to exercise restraint to avoid further military escalation.
Read more: Pakistan PM condemns attempted drone attack on Mecca
A spokesperson for the Saudi-led military coalition designated the security of Mecca and pilgrims as a firm "red line".
Houthi military officials, however, denied attempting to strike the holy city, claiming their operations focus exclusively on Saudi energy infrastructure and military bases.
Beyond aerial threats, Asif pointed out that ongoing disruptions along critical maritime choke points, specifically the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, are severely impacting global trade and placing heavy economic strains on Pakistan and neighboring countries.
What is Mecca pact?
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement is a collective security pact signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Türkiye.
Expanding upon an earlier bilateral mutual defense agreement signed between Riyadh and Islamabad in late 2025, the pact formalizes a trilateral alliance among three of the Muslim world's key military powers.
Formulated around a collective defense principle similar to NATO's Article 5, the agreement stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the signatory states is regarded as an attack against all three.
Beyond its mutual defense clause, the agreement establishes a framework for broad strategic and industrial cooperation: leveraging Saudi capital, Turkish advanced defense technology and manufacturing, and Pakistani military personnel and operational experience to enhance intelligence sharing, joint exercises, and defense-industrial co-production across the three nations.
