Pakistan, Saudi Arabia Clear Hurdles on Mecca Defense Pact as Houthi Fire Targets Kingdom

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have completed their domestic approval steps for the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, bringing the three-way military pact with Turkey closer to taking effect. Ankara has not yet finished its own ratification process, leaving the accord short of full sign-off from all three nations.

Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan confirmed the ratifications on Friday. He said the parties are still in talks over the deal's terms and how it will be put into practice. The pact was signed on 7 August in Mecca by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The agreement obliges the three states to respond collectively if any one of them comes under external armed attack. Each government retains discretion over the kind and scale of support it provides, based on the situation at hand. Islamabad characterizes the deal as defensive and consistent with the UN Charter.

Progress on the pact accelerated after the three countries' Strategic Political and Defence Committee met on 5 October. That session directed the parties to carry out collective defense commitments and to deploy military forces and capabilities rapidly in Saudi Arabia, with each state acting within its own laws.

The timing tracks with attacks on Saudi territory. Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence issued alerts this week for parts of the kingdom, including Abha and Khamis Mushait in the southwest, then later reported the danger had passed. Officials did not identify the threat but told residents to follow safety instructions and to avoid gathering or filming where alerts were in place, according to Anadolu Agency. Those alerts arrived alongside Houthi missile and drone strikes on the kingdom. Reuters reported on 21 October that Riyadh's partners have concentrated on shielding the country's infrastructure from further hits.

Military activity has picked up elsewhere in the region. Israel's military announced large-scale exercises for Sunday and Monday involving the air force and units from the Northern and Central Commands, rehearsing surprise air and land attacks and infiltration attempts. The drills are meant to test readiness against attacks on several fronts. President Trump said on Friday the United States could mount another operation against Iran as that conflict approaches its eighth month. A Business Times report, citing US officials, said American and Israeli forces have prepared plans for new strikes after the 3 November midterms, with Iranian energy infrastructure, nuclear sites, and missile and drone capabilities listed as possible targets.