Pakistan Completes Ratification of Tripartite Mecca Defence Pact

Residents of southwestern Saudi Arabia received new safety instructions this week as the kingdom braced for further threats from Yemen. Civil Defence authorities advised people in Abha and Khamis Mushait to follow specific guidelines and avoid gathering in public spaces. Officials noted that the immediate danger had passed but did not specify the nature of the threat. The alerts followed a series of Houthi missile and drone strikes on Saudi infrastructure.

Against this backdrop, Pakistan announced on Friday that it has fully ratified the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan confirmed that Islamabad and Riyadh have both completed their respective domestic procedures. The three-nation pact was originally signed on 7 August in Mecca by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The agreement establishes a framework for collective defence if any of the three states faces an external armed attack. The specific nature and level of military assistance provided in such an event will be determined based on the circumstances at the time. Islamabad has characterized the pact as defensive and aligned with the United Nations Charter. While Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have finished their legal steps, Turkey remains in the process of obtaining its domestic approval.

A meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee on 5 October pushed the agreement closer to operational status. Participants called for the rapid deployment of military forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia if required. Such deployments must remain subject to each country's internal laws. The committee emphasized the need to execute collective defence commitments effectively.

Reuters reported on 21 October that Saudi allies are primarily providing defensive support. The kingdom is currently focused on protecting its critical infrastructure from additional strikes. The Houthi attacks have heightened concerns about a wider regional escalation, prompting the kingdom to seek stronger allied support.

Regional tensions have risen further as the Israeli military announced large-scale exercises for Sunday and Monday. These drills will involve the air force and units from the Northern and Central Commands. The scenarios include surprise air and land attacks and infiltrations. The military stated the exercises aim to test readiness against multi-front threats and prepare for border escalations.

These military preparations coincide with reports that the United States and Israel are weighing renewed action against Iran. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Washington might launch another operation as the conflict approaches its eighth month. A report in The Business Times, citing US officials, indicated that American and Israeli forces have drawn up plans for fresh strikes after the US midterm elections on 3 November. Potential targets include Iranian energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and missile capabilities.