Pakistan ready to act under the Makkah Agreement, says Khawaja Asif

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said Pakistan will fulfil its commitments under the Makkah Agreement, as concerns grow over reported security incidents near Makkah.

Speaking during a television programme, Asif said the situation had reached a point where the agreement needed to be put into effect.

He also stressed that Pakistan’s responsibility to protect Islam’s holy sites existed regardless of any formal agreement. He said Pakistan would stand ready to protect Makkah if the holy city came under attack.

The minister’s remarks came after Saudi authorities reported intercepting and destroying a Houthi drone south of Makkah before it could enter the restricted airspace over the city.

Saudi Arabia reports drone interception near Makkah

According to Saudi authorities, the reported drone incident took place on Tuesday evening.

A spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said the drone was intercepted and destroyed south of Makkah. The incident was described as the second reported attempt by the Houthis to target the holy city.

The allegation has been rejected by the Houthis. Their spokesman, Yahya Saree, said the group’s military operations were directed at Saudi oil facilities and military installations located away from the sacred sites.

The conflicting statements mean that the exact nature and intended target of the reported drone remain disputed. However, the incident has raised fresh concerns about the possible impact of regional tensions on Saudi Arabia’s security.

Makkah is home to Islam’s holiest site, the Kaaba at Masjid al-Haram. Any reported threat near the city is therefore likely to attract serious attention across the Muslim world.

Asif explains Pakistan’s position

Asif said Pakistan’s commitment to safeguarding the holy sites was not dependent only on the existence of a formal agreement.

He maintained that the country had a responsibility to protect Makkah and Madinah and would respond if the holy sites faced an attack.

The defence minister also discussed the possibility of the conflict expanding if tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis continued to rise.

He said Pakistan and Turkiye would stand with Saudi Arabia both diplomatically and practically if the situation worsened.

Asif did not provide specific details about what practical support would involve. His comments, however, indicated that Islamabad was closely monitoring developments and maintaining communication with Riyadh.

He said Pakistan had already conveyed its position, while Saudi Arabia had also informed Islamabad about the situation.

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Iran’s role and risk of wider escalation

The defence minister also spoke about Iran’s possible response if Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia continued.

Asif said it would not be a wise course for Tehran to take sides in such circumstances. He also assessed that the possibility of Iran opening another front in the region was very low.

He pointed to the already sensitive relations involving Iran, the United States and Israel in the Gulf region.

In his view, opening or expanding another front would not be a prudent approach under the existing circumstances. He stressed that the situation should not be allowed to develop into a wider regional conflict.

The comments reflect concerns that a localised confrontation could create additional pressure across the Gulf and surrounding areas. Any further escalation could also affect regional stability, trade routes and diplomatic relations.

Pakistan reaffirms support for Saudi Arabia

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia following the reported incident.

He condemned the reported attempted attack near the Holy Site of Makkah Al-Mukarramah and expressed concern over the potential threat to the sacred location.

The prime minister called on all sides to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could further widen the conflict.

He stressed that dialogue and diplomatic efforts remained the most sustainable way to address regional tensions. His statement placed emphasis on preventing escalation while maintaining Pakistan’s support for Riyadh.

The government’s position comes as regional conflicts continue to create security concerns for neighbouring countries. Pakistan has traditionally maintained close relations with Saudi Arabia, including cooperation in defence, trade and other areas.