Pakistan says defence pact binds it to protect Saudi Arabia
Khawaja Asif says Islamabad will make available all means at its disposal in case of threat to kingdom
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is bound by its defence agreement with Saudi Arabia to help defend the kingdom against any threat, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday, adding that Islamabad would make available all means at its disposal.
“We are bound by this arrangement to defend Saudi Arabia, that means whatever means that are available at our disposal, they’ll be available to Saudi Arabia also,” Asif said in an interview with Al Jazeera.
Asif said Pakistan would support Saudi Arabia in the event of an attack by Yemen’s Houthi movement, another country or any other group that threatened the kingdom’s security.
“We are there to help Saudi Arabia in any conflict, whether it is coming from Houthis or a country or any other outfit which threatens Saudi Arabia’s security. We will be there to defend them,” he said.
“Any enemy of Saudi Arabia is an enemy of Pakistan,” Asif added, saying Islamabad’s position was clear.
His comments come amid renewed regional tensions and follow recent reaffirmations by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye of their commitment to the collective defence of the kingdom under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
The three countries’ senior military leadership on Sept. 25 condemned attacks targeting Makkah and reaffirmed their commitment to Saudi Arabia’s collective defence.
Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman subsequently discussed continued joint efforts to counter attacks targeting Makkah and Saudi civilian and economic infrastructure during a meeting with Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.
Asif on Sept. 27 also said Pakistan and Türkiye would stand with Saudi Arabia both practically and diplomatically in the event of aggression, reiterating Islamabad’s commitment to implementing the defence agreement.
The Houthis have carried out missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia during the conflict in Yemen, including attacks on military facilities, airports and energy infrastructure.
In September 2019, the group claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi Aramco’s Abqaiq oil processing facility and Khurais oil field, which disrupted Saudi oil production.
Asked about Iran’s relationship with the Houthis, Asif said Tehran did not regard the group as its proxy. He said armed groups initially supported by states could eventually develop their own agendas and capabilities.
“Some country, A, B or C, they launch a proxy and then [the] proxy has its own way of multiplying and then becoming a rogue sort of entity,” he said.
Asif also invoked Pakistan’s longstanding position on the protection of Islam’s holiest sites in Saudi Arabia.
He said that even in the absence of a formal agreement, Pakistan would have an obligation to protect Makkah and Madinah if they came under attack.
“If there wasn’t an agreement, if Saudi Arabia had been attacked, especially if the sacred cities of Makkah and Madinah were attacked, then we are bound by an eternal agreement; that is, we will protect the House of God and Madinah,” he said in an interview with a private television channel.
Asif said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye represented a separate formal commitment to protect the three countries against security threats.
