Amid escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and Houthi, Pakistan appears to be sending mixed signals over its newly formed Mecca Defence Pact. While the military has described the agreement as a defensive pact based on “collective deterrence,” questions have emerged over what Pakistan would do if Saudi Arabia continues to come under attack.

The discussion has increased after Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) director general, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Wednesday said the agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey was purely defensive and had no regional ambitions. “It is defensive. There's nothing aggressive. There are no regional aspirations. It is collective deterrence,” Chaudhry said.

Pakistan Says Details Are Classified

During his interview with Al Arabiya, Chaudhry was asked what Pakistan's mutual defence obligation would mean if one of the members came under attack. He stated that the publicly released agreement clearly establishes the mutual defence commitment, but the operational details remain classified. “What you're asking is the how part how we are going to defend Pakistan against any aggression," he said, adding that decisions on how to respond would be taken by the three countries.

Mecca Drone Attack Puts Pact Under Spotlight

The pact, which was signed on August 7 says that an attack on one member would be treated as an attack on all. However, the agreement has not yet been tested in an actual conflict. Moreover, it has come to focus after Saudi Arabia accused Iran-backed Houthi forces of carrying out a drone attack near the holy site of Mecca.

ALSO READ: Pakistan's Mecca Pact Irony: Houthi Drone Penetrates City Where Agreement Was Signed; Pak Sticks To 'Condemnation Mode'

Pak PM Condemns Attack Near Mecca

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack in strong terms but did not name the Houthis or Iran, further raising questions on the Mecca pact and Islamabad's position. “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the dastardly and heinous attempted drone attack against the Holy Site of Makkah Al-Mukarramah. The people of Pakistan are saddened and perturbed by this outrageous act. There can be no words strong enough to capture the depth of anguish and sorrow felt by us at this reprehensible and unforgivable act,” he wrote on X.

He further added that Pakistan stands unwaveringly with the “brotherly” Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the defence of its sovereignty, and territorial integrity. However, Sharif didn’t explicitly mention how Islamabad plans to do that.

Earlier, Pakistan Defence Minister Asif Khawaja had also said Pakistan was bound to carry out an operation if any member of the alliance was attacked. However, there were no military movements. Later, on September 10, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry clarified that there were no discussions about a military reaction from Islamabad under the Mecca agreement over Pakistan's position.

“There is no such thing under discussion right ‌now… When time comes (we) will act under the agreement," Pakistan foreign ministry spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said at a weekly media briefing. The sequence of statements by Pakistan’s leadership and military has created uncertainty over Islamabad’s position as Saudi-Houthi conflict escalates.

ALSO READ: Saudi Arabia Issues Red Line Warning After Drone Destroyed Near Mecca, Houthis Reject Attack Claim

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