Pakistan Says It Will Defend Saudi Arabia 'By Whatever Means' Under New Mecca Pact

Pakistan's defense minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, said Tuesday that Islamabad stands ready to defend Saudi Arabia against Iran-backed Houthi rebels using "whatever means are available," signaling one of Pakistan's clearest commitments yet amid a widening regional confrontation.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Rome, Asif declined to confirm whether Pakistani forces had already taken part in airstrikes in Yemen, but said Pakistan's military capabilities would be available to Saudi Arabia under the new Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, which also includes Turkey.

Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif pose for the camera at the Pakistani Embassy in Rome, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrea Rosa)(AP Photo/Andrea Rosa)

"I'm not going into detail, but obviously when I say that we are bound by this arrangement to defend Saudi Arabia, that means whatever means are available at our disposal, they'll be available to Saudi Arabia also. I think that's a categoric statement," Asif said.

What He Said—and What He Didn't

Asif's remarks stopped short of an explicit confirmation that Pakistani forces had participated in strikes. He also did not say whether Riyadh had formally requested Islamabad's assistance. The statement followed meetings of the army chiefs from Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia in Riyadh to coordinate responses to Houthi attacks.

On-the-Ground Developments

The defense minister described an intensification of Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi territory and an expansion of Houthi control along Yemen's Red Sea coast. He noted recent Houthi advances, including the capture of the strategic port city of Mokha and several Red Sea islands—moves that extend their reach toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a chokepoint through which roughly 12% of global trade transits.

Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif speaks with media at the Pakistani Embassy in Rome, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrea Rosa)(AP Photo/Andrea Rosa)

Asif also pointed to related activity beyond Yemen: allied militias in Iraq have targeted Saudi oil facilities and sought to hinder Saudi tankers' access to the strait.

About The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement

Signed on Aug. 7 by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement states that an attack on one signatory will be treated as an attack on all three. The pact has been described by its members as defensive and not directed at any particular state. Its full text has not been published and command and operational structures are still being developed.

Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif speaks with media at the Pakistani Embassy in Rome, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrea Rosa)(AP Photo/Andrea Rosa)

Asif said the partners are establishing a secretariat and finalizing the alliance's framework. He noted that other countries have expressed interest in joining, though there are no immediate plans to expand membership.

Regional Implications And Diplomacy

Asif characterized the Houthis as aggressors and emphasized Pakistan's unequivocal support for Saudi Arabia: "Any enemy of Saudi Arabia is enemy of Pakistan. That should be very clear," he said. While he invoked Pakistan's obligation under the pact, he did not reference Pakistan's nuclear arsenal or suggest it would factor into commitments.

At the same time, Asif said Islamabad is pressing for negotiations to de-escalate the broader confrontation involving Iran and supports reviving a negotiated settlement over Tehran's nuclear program. Earlier this year Pakistan hosted rare talks between Iran and the United States in Islamabad; the two sides reached an interim agreement in June, but the timeline for a final deal lapsed as hostilities resumed.

The developing crisis will test the new alliance's capabilities and cohesion as the pact's operational details are finalized and member states weigh military and diplomatic options.