Yemen attacks could trigger Tripartite Defence pact, says Khawaja Asif

Speaking during a television programme, Asif said Pakistan was committed to fulfilling its obligations under the agreement and stressed that

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that recent attacks originating from Yemen against Saudi Arabia could activate the joint defence arrangements agreed between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye under the Tripartite Mecca Agreement.

Speaking during a television programme, Asif said Pakistan was committed to fulfilling its obligations under the agreement and stressed that there should be no uncertainty about the country’s position.

The defence minister explained that under the tripartite understanding, aggression against one of the three member states would be treated as aggression against all of them. He said the latest attacks on Saudi territory therefore had implications for the implementation of the agreement.

The remarks came after Yemen’s Houthi group, Ansarullah, reportedly carried out attacks targeting areas including Abha, Khamis Mushait, Najran and Jazan. According to the report, civilian and economic facilities were among the sites affected, with 73 people, including women and children, reported injured.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the attacks, warning that such actions threaten civilian lives and undermine peace and security across the region.

The prime minister also reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and expressed solidarity with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Saudi people.

As regional tensions continue to rise, Asif’s remarks have brought renewed attention to the defence commitments linking Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye and the potential implications of any further attacks on Saudi territory.