Stories
Pakistan Walks a Tightrope Between Military Resolve and Peace in Saudi Defence Pact
M
Moneycontrol•19-10-2026, 21:44
Pakistan Walks a Tightrope Between Military Resolve and Peace in Saudi Defence Pact
- •Pakistan's military has promised Saudi Arabia full support against Houthi attacks, warning that collective defence under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement could be triggered if deterrence fails.
- •Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has simultaneously presented the Makkah agreement as an instrument of peace and regional stability, emphasizing diplomacy and restraint at the Global Security Forum in Doha.
- •The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, treats an armed attack against one member as an attack against all three.
- •Islamabad faces a delicate balancing act as it attempts to act as both a dependable security guarantor for the Gulf and a peace broker between regional adversaries like the United States and Iran.
Key Questions Answered
Signed on August 7, the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement is a trilateral pact uniting Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, which mandates that an armed attack against any single member must be treated as an attack against all three.
Pakistan is preparing for a major expansion of its military presence by considering the deployment of up to 25,000 troops to Saudi Arabia, adding to the more than 15,000 personnel already stationed there to reinforce the kingdom's defenses.
Army spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry warned of a collective military response if deterrence fails against Houthi attacks, whereas Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi framed the agreement as a tool for regional peace and diplomatic engagement.
