Pakistan’s defense minister says pact could be activated after Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said the trilateral Makkah defense alliance of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey could come into force if the conflict in Yemen spreads to Saudi Arabian territory. This was reported by Dawn after Yemeni Houthi attacks on the kingdom’s oil facilities.
According to the publication, 73 people were affected by the strikes on Tuesday. The Houthis said they launched dozens of ballistic missiles at the cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jizan and Najran in southern Saudi Arabia. The stated targets included Abha International Airport, King Khalid Air Base and facilities of the state oil company Aramco.
Terms of the defense alliance
The defense pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey was signed on August 7. It provides for strengthening collective deterrence and treating an attack on one participating state as an attack on all parties to the agreement.
Speaking on Geo News, Asif said there was no ambiguity in the provisions of the agreement: unprovoked aggression or the transfer of hostilities from Yemen to Saudi Arabia would mean that the pact would come into force. According to him, the participating states are obliged to fulfill the terms of the agreement and provide joint assistance in the event of aggression.
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The minister emphasized that the agreement is defensive rather than offensive in nature. He also expressed hope that the situation would be brought under control and tensions would ease.
Saudi Arabia’s and Pakistan’s response
Saudi Arabia carried out retaliatory strikes on the provinces of Taiz and Marib, as well as the Jubah district east of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said Riyadh would take all necessary measures to protect the country’s sovereignty.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Houthi attack and assured Saudi Arabia of Islamabad’s unwavering solidarity. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry also issued a statement condemning the strikes.
