Al Jazara
روایت خاورمیانه 
Khawaja Asif, the Defense Minister of Pakistan, stated that in light of the intensified Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and the interception of a drone near Makkah, the situation has reached a point where the "Makkah Defense Pact" must be implemented. He emphasized that Pakistan will fulfill its commitments to Saudi Arabia and the protection of holy sites.
Makkah Joint Defense Agreement
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey signed the "Makkah Joint Defense Agreement" last month. According to this agreement, any armed attack on one of these three countries is considered an attack on all members. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry also announced on Thursday that the bilateral defense agreement between Islamabad and Riyadh is "operational" and that Pakistan will also implement the trilateral pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey based on its commitments. Details of any potential military action have not yet been clearly announced.
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Houthi Attacks and Reactions
The remarks of the Defense Minister of Pakistan came after Saudi Arabia announced that its air defense intercepted and destroyed a drone in the south of Makkah on Tuesday. The Saudi-led coalition attributed the drone to the Houthis of Yemen, but the Houthis have denied any attempts to target Makkah. At the same time, Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, in a call with Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic, requested Tehran to use its "influence" over the Houthis to stop attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities and economic infrastructure.
This call took place on Wednesday coinciding with Araghchi's visit to China. Pakistani government sources stated that the Houthi attacks and ways to revive the stalled negotiations between the Islamic Republic and the United States were among the main topics of this discussion. Khawaja Asif also noted that Pakistan has conveyed Saudi Arabia's message to the Islamic Republic and added that he does not believe Tehran will "open a new front in the region" as a government under the current circumstances.
Sajjad Haider Khan, the spokesperson for the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, also described the situation in Bab al-Mandab as "very concerning" and urged the Houthis to cease their military activities. The escalation of conflicts in Yemen and attacks on Saudi Arabia represent the first serious test of the new defense pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey; a pact that Islamabad now states must be implemented.
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