Muhammad Amanullah — September 17, 2026
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the protection of Makkah and other holy sites does not depend on any separate agreement, describing their protection as Pakistan’s religious responsibility.
Speaking on a private television programme, Asif said that even if the Makkah Defence Agreement did not exist, Pakistan would still consider the protection of the holy sites its duty. He added that, given the current regional situation, he believed the time had arrived when responsibilities under the Makkah agreement could come into effect. (Dawn)
Makkah Agreement and Pakistan’s Obligations
The defence minister said the Makkah agreement applies to Pakistan and that the country would fulfil its obligations.
Asif said he could not disclose details of Pakistan’s defence strategy, but stressed that Islamabad remained committed to the agreement.
The trilateral defence arrangement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye provides for collective defence. Asif has previously said that aggression against one of the three countries would be treated as aggression against all three. (Geo News)
However, he distinguished the formal agreement from what he described as Pakistan’s religious responsibility to protect Makkah and Madinah.
Pakistan and Türkiye to Support Saudi Arabia
Asif said that if fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis escalates further, Pakistan and Türkiye would stand with Saudi Arabia both practically and diplomatically.
“If the situation escalates, we will stand with Saudi Arabia, both practically and diplomatically,” he said, according to reports of his television interview. (Dawn)
The statement comes amid heightened tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi movement. Saudi Arabia recently said its air defences intercepted a drone south of Makkah before it entered restricted airspace near the holy city. The Houthis denied targeting Makkah. (Arab News)
Khawaja Asif on Iran
Asked about Iran’s possible role in the conflict, Asif said he did not believe it would be a wise move for Tehran to openly support one side in a way that could further destabilise the region.
He also said he considered it unlikely that Iran would deliberately open another regional front given the broader tensions already affecting the region.
According to Asif, Pakistan has conveyed messages to the relevant parties and has also been in communication with Saudi Arabia regarding the developing situation. (Geo News)
Concerns Over Regional Escalation
The defence minister said the regional situation was already highly sensitive, with tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel adding to uncertainty across the Gulf and wider Middle East.
He warned that the opening of another front or further expansion of the conflict could create additional complications for countries across the region.
Pakistan has repeatedly said it wants to prevent the conflict from spreading and has maintained diplomatic contacts with countries involved in the regional crisis. Reuters has reported that Islamabad is attempting to balance its defence relationship with Saudi Arabia with its diplomatic engagement with Iran. (Reuters)
Pakistan’s Position on Saudi Arabia
Asif said Pakistan had communicated its position to the relevant parties and remained in contact with Saudi Arabia.
He reiterated that Pakistan would fulfil its responsibilities under the Makkah Defence Agreement but declined to provide details about any possible military response.
Pakistan’s position has also been described by military spokesman Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry as defensive in nature. He said the agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye was based on collective deterrence and was not directed against another country or alliance.
Protection of Holy Sites
Khawaja Asif again stressed that Pakistan’s commitment to the protection of Makkah and Madinah goes beyond the formal terms of any defence agreement.
He said the protection of the holy sites was a religious obligation and that Pakistan would not need to wait for a formal agreement in the event of an attack on the sacred cities. (The Express Tribune)
The comments come as the security situation around Saudi Arabia remains tense following a series of Houthi attacks and the reported attempted drone strike near Makkah.
For now, Pakistani officials have emphasised both their commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security and the importance of diplomacy to prevent the conflict from expanding into a wider regional confrontation.
