Web Desk(National Times)- Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have completed the ratification processes for the Makkah defence pact while Turkiye was in the process of doing so, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August, under which an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pact has gained significance amid Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, and Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said earlier this week that Pakistan was providing \u201cwhatever support is needed\u201d to defend the kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prior to that, the FO had emphasised that signing the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and committing military capabilities under it were executive functions under Pakistan\u2019s national laws and Rules of Business and did not necessarily require parliamentary approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answering questions after the weekly press briefing, the FO spokesperson said that \u201cmatters related to the agreement, its ratification and operationalisation remain under discussion by the three parties\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This included discussions during the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, which recently met on Oct 5, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Makkah Joint Defence Agreement reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye to strengthening collective defence and cooperation for regional security and stability,\u201d Khan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He further noted that each country followed its own constitutional and legal procedures to approve and ratify international agreements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPakistan and [the] Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have already completed their ratification processes, while Turkiye is undertaking the requisite procedures in accordance with its domestic legal framework,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turkiye submitted the Makkah defence pact to its parliament for ratification earlier this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The spokesperson highlighted Pakistan\u2019s continued commitment to the letter and spirit of the agreement, which he said \u201cis defensive in nature, consistent with the UN Charter, and aimed at promoting regional peace, security and stability\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answering a follow-up question regarding Article 2 of the pact, which states that an attack on one party would be considered an attack against all parties, Khan stressed again that the agreement was \u201cessentially defensive in nature\u201d and consistent with Article 51 of the UN Charter, which provides the right to self-defence\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Makkah Joint Defence Agreement reflects the shared commitment of all three parties, primarily to strengthening collective defence, deterrence, and regional stability,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added, \u201cIt is not directed against any particular country. It provides a framework for collective assistance in the event of external armed aggression against any party.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Khan, the \u201cnature and extent\u201d of any such assistance would be determined collectively by the three countries as the situation arose, \u201cfollowing an objective assessment of the circumstances\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To another question, he clarified that there were \u201cno hidden provisions\u201d in the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe endorse the text released in the media from the Turkish Parliament. There are no hidden provisions; the agreement is explicit and clear in its provisions and articles,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regarding the potential invocation of the agreement in response to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the spokesperson reiterated that \u201cThis matter has to be decided by the three partner countries in accordance with the agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also expressed Pakistan\u2019s concern over the recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and its implications for regional peace and security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur position has been clear and consistent,\u201d Khan said. \u201cWe support Yemen\u2019s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and believe that a lasting solution to the conflict can only be achieved through dialogue and a negotiated political settlement \u2026 At the same time, we unequivocally condemn attacks against Saudi Arabia and reaffirm our commitment to the Kingdom\u2019s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stressed that Pakistan remained supportive of any meaningful diplomatic engagement that could contribute to \u201cending hostilities and achieving a durable political settlement\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier this month, the FO said that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye had agreed to deploy military forces and capabilities rapidly in the kingdom, following an emergency meeting of the SPDC formed under their joint defence agreement in Riyadh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the statement did not specifically name any threat, the development came against the backdrop of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia in the Yemen conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The foes have traded strikes since the Houthis seized all of Yemen\u2019s Red Sea coast and took control of the Bab al-Mandab strait in a lightning offensive in September.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Web Desk(National Times)- Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have completed the ratification processes for the Makkah defence pact while Turkiye was in the process of doing so, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said on Friday. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August, under which an armed attack on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":135324,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-135323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n