Pakistan has clarified that there are no current discussions about military responses related to the Mecca defense pact, following recent warnings from its defense minister.
He said Pakistan was “bound by the terms and conditions of this pact” and would honour its commitments if required. Pakistan’s foreign ministry had previously said that any country seeking to join would be considered in consultation with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, but that there were no formal applications or new names at that stage. The comments came despite its defence minister warning that the agreement could become operational if the Yemen conflict spilled into Saudi Arabia. “There is no such thing under discussion right now … The apparent shift comes a day after defence minister Khawaja Asif warned that the pact could become operational if the Yemen conflict spilled into Saudi Arabia. Pakistan also ruled out any immediate expansion of the Mecca defence alliance, with foreign ministry spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan saying “there are no plans to expand the Mecca alliance.
The clarification comes after earlier discussions about potentially bringing other countries into the arrangement. Pakistan appears to have taken a step back from its strong warning to the Houthis a day earlier, with Islamabad on Thursday saying that no military response under the newly signed Mecca defence pact is currently being discussed. When time comes (we) will act under the agreement,” Pakistan foreign ministry spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said on Thursday, referring to the pact signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye last month.