Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have completed the ratification processes for the Makkah defence pact while Turkiye was in the process of doing so, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said on Friday.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August, under which an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
The pact has gained significance amid Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, and Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said earlier this week that Pakistan was providing “whatever support is needed” to defend the kingdom.
Prior to that, the FO had emphasised that signing the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and committing military capabilities under it were executive functions under Pakistan’s national laws and Rules of Business and did not necessarily require parliamentary approval.
Answering questions after the weekly press briefing, the FO spokesperson said that “matters related to the agreement, its ratification and operationalisation remain under discussion by the three parties”.
This included discussions during the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, which recently met on Oct 5, he added.
“The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye to strengthening collective defence and cooperation for regional security and stability,” Khan said.
He further noted that each country followed its own constitutional and legal procedures to approve and ratify international agreements.
“Pakistan and [the] Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have already completed their ratification processes, while Turkiye is undertaking the requisite procedures in accordance with its domestic legal framework,” he said.
Turkiye submitted the Makkah defence pact to its parliament for ratification earlier this week.
The spokesperson highlighted Pakistan’s continued commitment to the letter and spirit of the agreement, which he said “is defensive in nature, consistent with the UN Charter, and aimed at promoting regional peace, security and stability”.
Answering a follow-up question regarding Article 2 of the pact, which states that an attack on one party would be considered an attack against all parties, Khan stressed again that the agreement was “essentially defensive in nature” and consistent with Article 51 of the UN Charter, which provides the right to self-defence”.
“The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement reflects the shared commitment of all three parties, primarily to strengthening collective defence, deterrence, and regional stability,” he said.
He added, “It is not directed against any particular country. It provides a framework for collective assistance in the event of external armed aggression against any party.”
According to Khan, the “nature and extent” of any such assistance would be determined collectively by the three countries as the situation arose, “following an objective assessment of the circumstances”.
To another question, he clarified that there were “no hidden provisions” in the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
“We endorse the text released in the media from the Turkish Parliament. There are no hidden provisions; the agreement is explicit and clear in its provisions and articles,” he said.
Regarding the potential invocation of the agreement in response to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the spokesperson reiterated that “This matter has to be decided by the three partner countries in accordance with the agreement.”
He also expressed Pakistan’s concern over the recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and its implications for regional peace and security.
“Our position has been clear and consistent,” Khan said. “We support Yemen’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and believe that a lasting solution to the conflict can only be achieved through dialogue and a negotiated political settlement … At the same time, we unequivocally condemn attacks against Saudi Arabia and reaffirm our commitment to the Kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security.”
He stressed that Pakistan remained supportive of any meaningful diplomatic engagement that could contribute to “ending hostilities and achieving a durable political settlement”.
Earlier this month, the FO said that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye had agreed to deploy military forces and capabilities rapidly in the kingdom, following an emergency meeting of the SPDC formed under their joint defence agreement in Riyadh.
While the statement did not specifically name any threat, the development came against the backdrop of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia in the Yemen conflict.
The foes have traded strikes since the Houthis seized all of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and took control of the Bab al-Mandab strait in a lightning offensive in September.