Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has stated that the defence pact between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia could come into force if Houthis continue to launch attacks on Saudi Arabia or if the Yemen conflict spills over.
Asif told a local TV station the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement has committed the three nations to acting if any of them were attacked by armed groups.
But if there is “no provocation” or spilling over of whatever is happening in Yemen into Saudi Arabia, this agreement will definitely be put in place, Asif said.
He further stated that Pakistan had signed this agreement and would keep its commitments as per the conditions of the agreement in case it was asked to do so.
The comments came after the Houthis launched a series of drone and missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, targeting civilians and energy facilities, resulting in the deaths of over 70 people. Of the 73 wounded in the September 8 attacks, which struck among others Abha, Jazan, Najran and Khamis Mushait, 41 suffered serious injuries, Reuters reported.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistani Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks, which infringed upon Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and urged Riyadh to take measures under the international law to safeguard its national assets, people and territory.
Asif also cautioned Iran-backed Houthis against leveraging the broader Saudi-U.S.-Iran conflict to further involve Saudi Arabia in the war. If it moves into Saudi territory, it will be at its own peril,” he said.
Asif said on the overall Middle East conflict, diplomatic efforts were still stuck at a standstill, but Washington was still doing indirect contacts with Tehran. He said that hopefully diplomacy will come up with some way going forward.
Source: Aaj News
