Pakistan finishes ratifying Mecca defense pact

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia completed ratification procedures for a joint defense pact on Friday. The treaty, signed by the three nations on 7 August, remains pending final approval from Turkey.

Sajjad Haider Khan, a spokesperson for the Foreign Office, confirmed that Islamabad and Riyadh have finished their domestic legal requirements. He stated that operational details for the agreement are still under discussion among the three parties. The deal was initially signed in Mecca by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The agreement mandates collective defense if any of the three states faces an external armed attack. Islamabad has characterized the pact as defensive and consistent with the UN Charter. Specific aid levels will be determined based on the circumstances of any future attack.

Implementation efforts accelerated following a 5 October meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee. That body urged for the rapid deployment of military forces to Saudi Arabia, subject to each nation's internal laws. This move occurs as the kingdom faces renewed security threats from Yemen's Houthis.

Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence issued warnings this week regarding potential dangers in Abha and Khamis Mushait. Authorities later declared the threat had passed but advised residents to avoid gathering or filming in those areas. These alerts coincided with Houthi missile and drone strikes on Saudi infrastructure. Reuters reported on 21 October that Riyadh's allies are primarily providing defensive support to protect key infrastructure.

The ratification announcement also aligns with broader regional military preparations. The Israeli military announced large-scale exercises in the north and center of the country for Sunday and Monday. These drills involve the air force and Northern and Central Command units. They will rehearse scenarios involving surprise air and land attacks.

The exercises aim to test readiness for multi-front defense and potential border escalations. Meanwhile, Washington and Tel Aviv are reportedly planning renewed military action against Iran. President Trump stated on Friday that the United States might launch another operation as the conflict nears its eighth month. Reports indicate that American and Israeli forces have drafted plans for fresh strikes following the US midterm elections on 3 November.