Houthi attacks on KSA: FO says 'more time needed to implement Makkah defence pact'

Amid Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, Foreign Office Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan has said “more time is needed” to implement the Makkah defence pact, an agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye aimed at providing collective defence in the event of aggression against any member.

Addressing a weekly press briefing, the Foreign Office spokesperson said that Pakistani forces were currently present in Saudi Arabia for training and logistical purposes, while further aspects of defence cooperation would emerge soon. 

The FO's statement came in response to a question on how Pakistan plans to fulfil its obligations under the accord after Saudi Arabia was attacked by the Houthis.

The Makkah trilateral agreement — signed between Islamabad, Riyadh and Ankara on August 7 — provides for collective security and defence cooperation among the three states.

The defence agreement signed last month stipulates that an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack on all of them.

The pact was signed amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following the conflict that began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran and targeted its senior leadership.

This is a developing story and is being updated with more details.