Pakistan, Saudi Arabia complete ratification of Makkah defence pact, Foreign Office confirms

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have completed ratification of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan confirmed at Friday’s weekly press briefing in Islamabad, with Türkiye still working through its domestic legal framework.

“Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have already completed their ratification processes, while Türkiye is undertaking the requisite procedures in accordance with its domestic legal framework,” Khan said. Ankara sent the pact to the Turkish parliament this week, making its 16-article text public; Islamabad has not released the text itself.

Khan endorsed the Turkish parliament’s text and rejected suggestions of undisclosed clauses: “There are no hidden provisions; the agreement is explicit and clear in its provisions and articles.” Each country follows its own constitutional procedures, he added — consistent with the FO’s earlier position that signing the pact and committing military capabilities are executive functions under Pakistani law (Dawn; Aaj English).

On Article 2, which treats an external armed attack on any party as an attack on all, Khan stressed the pact is defensive, consistent with Article 51 of the UN Charter, and “not directed against any particular country”. Any assistance would be decided collectively after an objective assessment (Business Recorder; Dunya).

Ratification and operationalisation remain under discussion in the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, which met on October 5. The confirmation comes amid Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia; ISPR Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said this week Pakistan is providing “whatever support is needed” to defend the kingdom (Dawn; Dunya).