World
Pakistan warns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia could activate Mecca defence pact: What it means
The Pakistani defence minister further said that Islamabad is bound by the terms of the agreement and will honour the pact if required.
FULL ARTICLE · The Indian Express World
4 min readUpdated: Sep 10, 2026 03:46 PM IST
Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. (Image enhanced using AI)
Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said the recently signed Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan defence pact or Mecca agreement could become operational if Saudi Arabia faces “unprovoked aggression” or the conflict in Yemen spills into the kingdom, a day after Iran-aligned Houthi forces launched attacks on Saudi territory.
“If there is unprovoked aggression, or a spillover of whatever is happening in Yemen into Saudi Arabia, definitely the Mecca agreement will become operational,” Geo News quoted Asif as saying.
On Thursday, Pakistan foreign ministry spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan, however, said at a weekly media briefing that there were no discussions about a military reaction from Islamabad under the Mecca agreement in response to the Houthis’ attacks on Saudi Arabia. But the defence minister noted that Pakistan will “act” when the “time comes”, news agency Reuters reported.
The comments by Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson came in response to a question on how Islamabad plans to fulfill its obligations under a joint defence accord it signed with Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
The joint 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.
“There is no such thing under discussion right now … When time comes (we) will act under the agreement,” Khan.
.
Middle East · Defense Pact
What is the Mecca Defence Agreement?
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye signed a collective-defence pact on August 7. Here's what it says, and what it doesn't.
Signed
Aug 7, 2026
Location
Mecca
Countries
3
An armed attack on any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack on all three.
What is it? Troops question First test Why it matters for India
The basics
Formally called the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, it builds on an earlier bilateral pact and is designed to strengthen collective deterrence and defence cooperation.
- SignatoriesSaudi Arabia, Pakistan, Türkiye
- Builds onSept 2025 Saudi-Pakistan pact
- Agreement textNot published
- Joint command?None established
~1.4M
Personnel
~3,400
Aircraft
~6,000
Tanks
340+
Naval assets
Does this mean Pakistan will send troops?
Not necessarily.
Because the agreement's text hasn't been published, it's unclear:
- What military response each country must provide
- How the agreement would formally be activated
- Whether troops would have to be deployed
- The geographical limits of any military response
"Attack on one, attack on all" does not automatically mean an immediate Pakistani military deployment.
Why this is a test for the pact
Signed only weeks ago, the agreement is already facing its first real scenario.
Pact signed — Aug 7, 2026
Houthi attacks escalate — renewed conflict in Yemen
Saudi Arabia could seek support — under the pact's terms
Will the agreement remain a deterrence signal — or lead to actual military involvement? Pakistan's answer will shape how the pact is read going forward.
Why it matters for India
A wider conflict involving Saudi Arabia could affect India on several fronts:
Oil
Saudi Arabia is a major global oil producer. Damage to energy infrastructure could add pressure to prices.
Shipping
Escalation around Yemen and the Red Sea could further disrupt an important global trade corridor.
Indians in the Gulf
Saudi Arabia hosts a large Indian expatriate community, making regional stability directly relevant to India.
Pakistan's strategic ties
The pact marks deeper defence ties between Pakistan and two major regional powers — Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
Source: Atlantic Council; Arab Center DC; OSW Centre for Eastern Studies; Al Jazeera. Aug 2026. The agreement's full text has not been published; details on activation and scope remain based on official statements and analyst assessment, not the text itself.
.
What Khawaja Asif claimed
The Pakistani defence minister further said that Islamabad was bound by the terms of the agreement and will honour the pact if required.
Story continues below this ad
“There should be no doubt about that. We are bound by the terms and conditions of this pact, and … we will honour them in case there is a need,” Asif added.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey defence pact: What is the Mecca Agreement?
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on August 7, committing to reinforce stronger collective deterrence, treating an armed attack on any one country as an attack on all three.
A joint release by the three countries stated that the pact is “intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression and stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against them all. It further provides for the enhancement of all aspects of defence cooperation among the three states.”
However, the extent and nature of commitments by the three countries for joint defence are not publicly known. Nor has the geographical scope of such an arrangement been spelt out.
Story continues below this ad
The deal was agreed amid heightened regional tensions, including concerns in the three nations over Israel’s expanding military capabilities and Iran’s influence across the Gulf region.
Yemen’s Houthis launch missile strikes targeting Saudi oil facilities
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis launched missile strikes that hit targets in southern Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, injuring several and disrupting operations at some energy facilities, including Aramco.
The attacks wounded at least 73 people in attacks on Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, Colonel Turki al-Malki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, said.
Following this, the Saudi-backed forces retaliated and launched 32 airstrikes overnight targeting four Yemeni provinces.
Story continues below this ad
Houthi spokesman Nasruddin Amer, in a post on X, said on Wednesday that Saudi had hit Yemen’s Taiz, Hodeida, Jawf and Marib provinces.
The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More
Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
SOURCE