Pakistan Hints at Possible Activation of “Mecca Agreement” in Response to Attacks on Saudi Arabia

Al-Taj News – Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif announced that Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia could lead to the activation of the “Mecca Agreement” between Riyadh, Islamabad, and Ankara.

Muhammad Asif said that the “Mecca Agreement” “stipulates that any aggression against one of the three countries is considered aggression against all of them,” referring to “the commitment to the agreement.”

He added that Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia or the extension of the conflict in Yemen into Saudi territory could lead to the activation of the provisions of the joint defense agreement signed between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

He stressed that the agreement does not aim to launch attacks against other countries, but is based on the principle of joint defense and responding to any aggression against one of the member states.

The Pakistani defense minister added that Islamabad hopes to bring the situation under control and restore calm.

These statements came following attacks carried out by the Houthis against civilian and economic facilities in four cities in the south of the Kingdom, namely Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran, which resulted in 73 civilians being injured, including women and children.

Major General Turki Al-Maliki, spokesperson for the coalition supporting the Yemeni government, said the attacks caused fires to break out at several sites, while the Saudi Ministry of Energy announced the temporary suspension of operations at a number of oil facilities and affected installations until the fires were brought under control and the damage assessed.