Protecting Holy Places Is Our Religious Duty: Khawaja Asif
Defence Minister said Pakistan had a defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, but even in the absence of such an agreement, protecting Saudi Arabia — particularly its holy sites — was Pakistan’s religious duty.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the Mecca agreement comes into effect in the wake of the failed Houthi’s drone attack on the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking to Geo News, on Wednesday, Khawaja Asif said Pakistan had a defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, but even in the absence of such an agreement, protecting Saudi Arabia — particularly its holy sites — was Pakistan’s religious duty.
“There is no need to activate any agreement; it is our religious duty to protect these places,” he said.
He said Pakistan would defend Saudi Arabia or Türkiye if either country came under attack under the agreement.
“There is no doubt, as I understand it, that if you look at it from both dimensions, it applies there and we consider it our duty, and Insha’Allah Almighty, we will fulfil it,” he said.
Asked whether the three countries had held discussions over the past eight days following an increase in Houthi’s attacks and decided on a joint response, Mr. Asif declined to comment.
He said no strategy or military strategy could be discussed openly.
Responding to a question about Iran’s support for the Houthis and whether Pakistan would engage directly with Tehran, Mr. Asif said: “I don’t think Iran will open another front at a time when they are already in a war in our region.”
He said Pakistan had conveyed Saudi Arabia’s concerns to the Iranians and told them that the Houthis should not be supported and should be dealt with as aggressors.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had condemned the Houthi’s attempt to attack the holy city of Makkah on Tuesday, calling it an “extremely provocative act.”
In a statement on X, he said the Pakistani people were deeply concerned and distressed over the incident.
Saudi Arabia said its air defence systems had destroyed a drone launched by Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen towards an area south of Makkah on Tuesday evening.
The Saudi-led coalition in the region has described the security of Makkah and other holy sites as a “red line”, while the Houthis have denied targeting Makkah or other religious sites.
In recent weeks, the Houthis have carried out missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, while fighting has intensified inside Yemen and along its Red Sea coast.
The Houthis have also advanced around the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb strait along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, raising concerns over commercial shipping and energy supplies.
The concerns come as the region is already facing difficulties caused by disruptions to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Yemen’s conflict had remained relatively limited following a UN-mediated truce in 2022, which significantly reduced fighting. However, hostilities have intensified in recent weeks.
