Pakistan claims that the Mecca Agreement did not include a military response to the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan stated on Thursday that it would take action when the “time comes” in response to the Houthis’ strikes on Saudi Arabia, but there were no talks about a military response from Islamabad under the terms of the Mecca agreement. An armed strike on any one of the three nations will be considered an attack on all of them, according to the cooperative defence pact that was signed last month.

“There is no such thing under discussion right now … When time comes (we) will act under the agreement,” Pakistan foreign ministry spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said ⁠at a weekly media briefing, in response to a question asking how Islamabad planned to fulfil its obligations under the joint defence accord signed with Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

The topic emerged after Saudi cities and energy infrastructure were hit by Iran-backed Houthis this week, continuing attacks that by Thursday had turned into a second theatre of war in the Middle East. According to reports, Islamabad has cautioned Iran to control its Houthi supporters in Yemen after they increased their attacks on Saudi Arabia.

While condemning these strikes, Pakistan, which has also been mediating the crisis between the United States and Iran, did not specify how it may react in accordance with its defence deal. In addition, Khan stated that there were no intentions to broaden the Mecca alliance as Washington battles to control the regional turmoil that has also interfered with the world’s energy supplies.