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

• FO spokesperson condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
• FO says further aspects of defence cooperation to emerge soon.
• FO urges UN, rights groups to take notice of Yasin Malik’s case.
  

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 on Thursday, 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.

The FO spokesperson, at weekly press briefing, strongly condemned the Houthi attacks on civilian and economic sites in Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed its “unwavering support” for the kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and prosperity.

His statement comes a day after the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said the Houthis attacked the southern Saudi cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait and Jazan with ballistic missiles and drones, marking the second consecutive day of Houthi attacks on the kingdom.

More than 70 people were injured on Tuesday after Houthis launched an attack on several cities in Saudi Arabia, further undermining stability in the Middle East.

Earlier this week, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that Houthi attacks on Saudi territory would invoke the Makkah Defence Alliance, a tripartite defence agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.

"Under the trilateral agreement, any aggression against any of the three [countries] is regarded as an aggression against all. There is no ambiguity about that," he said while speaking on Geo News' programme "Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath" on Tuesday.

Speaking during the show, the defence minister said that unprovoked aggression or the spillover from Yemen into Saudi Arabia "will definitely" operationalise the Makkah Defence Alliance.

"There should be no doubt about it. We are bound by the terms and conditions of this pact, and we will honour them in case there is a need," he added.

However, Asif said that Islamabad hoped the situation would be brought under control and eventually subside.

FO condemns ‘systematic’ demolition of Muslim religious sites in India

The Foreign Office spokesperson also condemned the “systematic” and “state-sanctioned” demolition of Muslim places of worship in India.

Responding to a question, the spokesperson said Pakistan “expresses deep concern and condemns the systematic state-sanctioned demolition of Islamic holy places in India under different pretexts”.

He said the demolitions were in violation of the Liaquat-Nehru Pact signed in 1950, which guarantees the security and rights of religious minorities.

The spokesperson also said the demolitions violated Indian laws, particularly the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. The law requires the religious character of places of worship to be maintained as it existed on August 15, 1947.

Referring to the recent demolition of a mosque in Uttar Pradesh, he said: “The Hindu-driven Islamophobic campaign has resulted in an imminent threat and the destruction of centuries-old heritage sites and places of worship.”

He cited the Akhonji Mosque, Ajgaib Shaheed Mosque and Saharanpur Collectorate Mosque, as well as the 1,000-year-old Ganj Shahida Mosque, which has recently received court notices.

The spokesperson called on the international community to take action against continued persecution of Muslims in India.

He also rejected a statement by India’s Ministry of External Affairs regarding a Hindu temple in Narowal.

“Contrary to India’s claim, the temple’s structure was damaged in torrential rain,” he said.

FO urges UN to take notice of Yasin Malik’s situation

In the same briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan condemned the mistreatment of jailed Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik and called on the international community to take notice of his situation.

“Malik’s decision to withdraw from his defence was a protest against the Indian judicial system,” he said.

The spokesperson said the Indian judicial system had become a means of depriving the Kashmiri people of justice.

He called on the international community not to allow India to use Malik’s life and health for political purposes. The spokesperson urged the United Nations and international human rights organisations to take notice of Kashmiri leader Malik’s situation.