Amid the escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni militant group the Houthis, Pakistan has now stated it stands “ready to fulfil its obligations” under the Makkah Defence Agreement.
Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has stated that the country stands ready to fulfil its obligations under the defence agreement. The remarks from the defence minister also come after the Saudi-led coalition claimed it destroyed a Houthi drone headed for the holy city of Mecca. Pakistan was among the nations that condemned the drone strike, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for a return to dialogue and diplomacy to end the escalating conflict. Speaking on the pact, the defence minister added that the agreement provides for mutual defence in case the territorial integrity or geographical boundaries of any of the three of the nations are violated. Last week, Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir , also raised the rising attacks on Saudi Arabia with Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi.
Sharif also reiterated Pakistan’s full support for Saudi Arabia’s defence and said the country stood “shoulder to shoulder” with Riyadh. “Iran does not interfere in Yemeni affairs,” ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters, adding that the Houthis are “entirely independent actors who make their decisions based on their own interests”. Speaking to Geo News on Wednesday, the defence minister said the “Makkah Agreement applies to us, and we will fulfil our duty.
