Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Pakistan Reaffirms Mecca Pact Duties After Saudi Drone Interception
Saudi Arabia said it stopped a drone near the holy city of Mecca.
Saudi officials said the drone came from the Houthis, but the Houthis denied attacking Mecca or another holy site.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan would carry out its responsibilities under a defence agreement.
The agreement connects Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in a promise of mutual defence.
It says an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all three.
Asif said Pakistan would protect the holy sites even without the agreement.
Pakistan has not explained publicly what military action it might take.
Officials said they want to use diplomacy and prevent the conflict from spreading.
They also warned that trouble near important sea routes could hurt Pakistan and other regional economies.
Saudi Arabia said its air defences destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered prohibited airspace.
The Houthis denied targeting Mecca or any Islamic holy site, saying their operations targeted Saudi oil facilities and military bases.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan would fulfil its obligations under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
The pact treats an armed attack on one of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia or Türkiye as an attack on all three.
Pakistan withheld details of any potential military response and urged dialogue, restraint and protection of maritime trade routes.
- Who
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, the Houthi movement and Iran are central to the report; Khawaja Asif, Sajjad Haider Khan and Shehbaz Sharif spoke for Pakistan.
- What
- Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement after Saudi Arabia reported intercepting a Houthi drone near Mecca.
- When
- The interception was reported on Tuesday; Asif spoke on Wednesday, and Pakistan’s Foreign Office reiterated its position on Thursday. The agreement was signed on August 7.
- Where
- The drone was reportedly destroyed south of Mecca along Saudi Arabia’s western coast; the agreement was signed in Mecca.
- Why
- Pakistan said it had responsibilities to protect Saudi Arabia and the holy sites while seeking to prevent regional escalation and protect maritime trade.
Saudi and Pakistani Account
Houthi Denial and Diplomatic Caution
What happened near Mecca
Saudi and Pakistani Account
Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered prohibited airspace. Shehbaz Sharif condemned what he called an attempted attack on the holy site.
Houthi Denial and Diplomatic Caution
The Houthis denied targeting Mecca or any Islamic holy site. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group’s operations targeted Saudi oil facilities and military bases; one report said the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of lying.
Pakistan’s defence obligations
Saudi and Pakistani Account
Khawaja Asif said the Makkah Agreement applied to Pakistan and that it would fulfil its duty. He said the pact covered violations of a member’s territorial integrity or geographical boundaries.
Houthi Denial and Diplomatic Caution
Pakistan has not publicly disclosed when, where or how it might respond militarily. Its Foreign Office cited operational confidentiality and emphasised dialogue and diplomacy rather than coercive measures.
Risk of regional escalation
Saudi and Pakistani Account
Asif said non-state groups could act without formal approval from a state and highlighted Houthi threats to maritime traffic and disruption around key waterways.
Houthi Denial and Diplomatic Caution
Asif said he did not expect Iran as a state to open another front. Pakistani officials urged restraint and continued efforts to prevent the conflict from expanding.
- Agreement members
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
- Agreement date
- The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed in Mecca on August 7.
- Mutual-defence provision
- An armed attack against one member is to be regarded as an attack against all three.
- Reported interception
- Saudi authorities said air defences destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered prohibited airspace.
- Houthi response
- The Houthis denied targeting Mecca or any Islamic holy site; Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said operations targeted Saudi oil facilities and military bases.
- Pakistan’s position
- Khawaja Asif said the agreement applied to Pakistan and that it would fulfil its duty.
- Operational details
- Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said decisions about when, where, how and with what force to act would remain confidential.
- Maritime concerns
- Officials said disruption around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab was affecting regional trade and Pakistan’s economy.
Sources
‘Will fulfil our duty’: Pakistan reaffirms readiness to meet Makkah defence pact obligations
Ready to fulfil obligations under Makkah defence pact: Pakistan
With Saudi attacked, is Pakistan ready to join Gulf War?
Ready to implement Mecca Pact, says Pakistan’s Khawaja Asif after Saudis intercept Houthi drone
'No Ambiguity Over Mecca Agreement', Says Pak Defence Minister Khawaja Asif After Saudi Intercepts Houthi Drone Near Mecca
