Pakistan Flags Possible Activation of Makkah Defence Alliance After Houthi Strikes on Saudi Arabia

Islamabad – In the wake of fresh Houthi strikes that rattled Saudi cities and hit energy infrastructure, Pakistan’s defence minister, Khawaja Asif, made it crystal clear that the new Makkah Defence Alliance will not sit on the sidelines. He told Geo TV that an attack on any one of the three members – Pakistan, Saudi Arabia or Turkey – will automatically be treated as an attack on all.

Earlier this week, Iran‑aligned Houthi forces launched a barrage of missiles and drones into Saudi territory, leaving at least 73 civilians injured. The group said the barrage was retaliation for a series of Saudi airstrikes on Houthi‑held parts of north‑western Yemen.

“There should be no ambiguity,” Asif said, his tone firm yet measured. “We are bound by the terms of the pact, and God willing we will honour them if the need arises.” He added that Pakistan had not yet been contacted by Riyadh about the incidents, but the defence agreement already spells out a collective‑defence clause.

The minister was careful to stress that the alliance is defensive, not a licence for the three countries to launch unilateral attacks. “This is not an aggressive treaty,” he explained. “If aggression touches one member, the others will respond in kind – but we won’t be the first to start a fight.”

Asif also warned the Houthis against trying to export the Yemen conflict beyond its borders. “If they try to spread the war, the clauses of this agreement will become operative,” he reiterated, casting the pact as a deterrent rather than a trigger for a wider war.

While acknowledging the sympathy many Muslims feel for Iran’s stance against the United States, Asif cautioned that such sentiment should not be twisted into a pretext for broader regional escalation. He suggested that the combined military capabilities of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey should be enough of a signal to keep potential aggressors thinking twice.

In closing, the defence chief expressed hope that diplomatic channels could de‑escalate the situation, urging Saudi Arabia not to be dragged into what he described as an “internal Yemeni conflict.” The message was clear: the Makkah Defence Alliance stands ready, but it prefers peace over powder‑keg politics.