ISLAMABAD, Sep 10 (Alliance News): Foreign Office Spokesperson Ambassador Sajjad Haider Khan has said that “more time is needed” to implement the Makkah defence pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, amid recent Houthi attacks on Saudi territory.
Addressing the Foreign Office’s weekly press briefing, the spokesperson said Pakistani forces were currently present in Saudi Arabia for training and logistical purposes.
He said further aspects of defence cooperation under the agreement would become clear in due course.
The spokesperson was responding to a question about how Pakistan would fulfil its obligations under the agreement following the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
The Makkah trilateral defence agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on August 7 to strengthen collective security and defence cooperation among the three countries.
Under the agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three countries is to be treated as an attack against all three members.
The pact was signed amid growing 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 senior Iranian leadership.
The recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have added to regional security concerns and raised questions about the practical implementation of the trilateral defence commitments.
Pakistan has maintained defence and security cooperation with Saudi Arabia for decades, including the presence of Pakistani military personnel in the Kingdom for training and related purposes.
