ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has made its defence commitment clear after the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Pakistan will fulfil its obligations under the Mecca Mutual Defence Agreement, and aggression against any member country will be taken seriously.
Khawaja Asif clarified that there is no ambiguity in the agreement in this regard. Under the defence arrangement signed between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, an attack on a member will be considered aggression against all three countries. He said that the agreement is defensive in nature and its purpose is not to take aggressive action against any country.
This statement came at a time when Yemen’s Houthis launched missile and drone attacks in southern areas of Saudi Arabia. According to Saudi officials, 73 people were injured in the attacks, including women and children. The attacks set fire to some energy facilities and disrupted activities in some places.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attacks, claiming to have targeted various cities and important installations in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia described the attacks as a dangerous development and indicated the necessary steps to defend its sovereignty.
The latest situation has increased the risk of opening another front in the already tense Middle East. Saudi Arabia is central to the region’s energy supply. Therefore, the impact of threats to oil installations there could reach global markets. After the attacks, the price of Brent crude oil also reached close to $99 per barrel.
For Pakistan, relations with Saudi Arabia are important in both economic and defence terms. However, at the current stage, the stance taken by Islamabad is mainly based on the obligation of the agreement and support for Saudi security. The decision on the practical implementation of the defence agreement will be subject to the situation and relevant government measures.
With tensions escalating in the region, Pakistan will also have to maintain a careful balance at the diplomatic level. In the coming days, further developments regarding Saudi Arabia’s security, Houthi operations, and the Mecca defence agreement may become important.
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