‘Mecca Pact Will Be Invoked if Houthi Conflict Spreads to Saudi Arabia’: Khawaja Asif

Islamabad (Agency) — Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the trilateral “Mecca Defense Pact” with Saudi Arabia and Turkey could be invoked if the Yemen conflict spreads within Saudi Arabia’s borders. He made the remarks after Tuesday’s attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Saudi oil facilities, which left 73 people injured.
Asif said the pact, signed on August 7, was designed to strengthen collective resistance and allows the three countries to treat an attack on any one member as an attack on all.
According to a report in Dawn, when asked whether the pact could be invoked following the Houthi attacks, Asif said there was no ambiguity about its terms. “This is a mutual defense agreement,” he said. “If there is unprovoked aggression, or if what is happening in Yemen spreads into Saudi Arabia, this agreement will certainly come into force. There should be no doubt about that.” He added, “We are bound by the terms and conditions of this agreement, and we will act on them if the need arises.”
Asked whether any talks had taken place between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia following the attacks, the defense minister said he had no information of any such communication. However, he made clear that Pakistan would respond if required.