Lead:
Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declared that strengthening Saudi Arabia's defenses is an obligation for Islamabad and pledged Pakistan will stand alongside the kingdom to intercept attacks and threats targeting it. Asif stated that contributing to Saudi air defense upgrades holds equal importance to defending Pakistani territory. His remarks came amid ongoing diplomatic coordination between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan addressing regional security challenges and Houthi militant strikes on the kingdom.
Details:
According to Al-Watan, Khawaja Asif framed Pakistan's commitment within the broader context of shared defense obligations, stating that Pakistan remains bound by joint defense agreements with both Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The minister linked his comments to discussions of regional developments and attacks launched by the Houthi group against Saudi territory, alongside ongoing diplomatic movements involving Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, and Iran.
The statement underscores deepening security coordination among the three countries as Houthi operations against Saudi infrastructure have accelerated. Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan, Saudi Ambassador to the United States, wrote in the New York Times that Houthi terrorism poses a threat extending beyond Yemen's borders and requires decisive international action. The ambassador emphasized that eliminating the Houthis' armed threat is the sole path to a comprehensive political settlement led by Yemenis themselves.
Turkish parliamentary approval of the Mecca Defense Accord signals institutional backing for the trilateral framework. The accord formalizes defense coordination mechanisms among the three signatories, though implementation details remain subject to ongoing coordination meetings and security assessments.
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