Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to the Makkah Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye following the interception of a Houthi drone near the holy city of Mecca. Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said there was “absolutely no ambiguity” over the application of the agreement and that Islamabad would fulfil its obligations under the pact. His remarks came after Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it could enter the city’s restricted airspace.
Speaking to Geo News, Asif said the Makkah Agreement applied to Pakistan and that the country remained bound by its commitments. He did not provide details of what Pakistan’s military response could involve, saying such operational information would not be discussed publicly. He also stressed that Pakistan’s responsibility to protect Islamic holy sites existed independently of the agreement.
The incident has brought renewed attention to the trilateral defence arrangement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. Asif said the agreement covers situations involving violations of the territorial integrity or geographical boundaries of its signatories. Pakistan has also indicated that it would support Saudi Arabia through diplomatic and practical measures if the regional security situation worsens.
Saudi authorities said the drone was intercepted south of Mecca on Tuesday before it entered prohibited airspace around the holy city. The Saudi-led coalition described the incident as an attempted Houthi attack, while Houthi officials rejected the allegation that they had targeted Mecca or another Islamic holy site. Reuters reported that Saudi authorities have described the safety of Mecca as a red line amid continuing regional tensions.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also reiterated Islamabad’s support for Saudi Arabia following the incident and called for restraint to prevent further escalation. Meanwhile, Pakistan has communicated Saudi Arabia’s concerns to Iran as Islamabad seeks to limit the conflict from spreading to additional areas of the region.
Asif also highlighted concerns over the wider impact of regional tensions on major maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab. Disruptions in these strategic waterways could affect regional trade and economies. The latest developments have therefore placed renewed focus on the practical implications of the Makkah Defence Agreement as Saudi Arabia faces continuing security threats linked to the wider Yemen conflict.
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