Pakistan completes ratification of tri-nation defense pact 78 days after signing

Pakistan finished its formal vote on a military alliance with Saudi Arabia and Turkey on Friday.

The Foreign Office confirmed that Islamabad and Riyadh have both completed the necessary ratification steps for the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. The three nations originally signed the document on August 7, making the current process 78 days long. Sajjad Haider Khan, a Foreign Office spokesperson, stated that the three parties are still discussing the specific operational details of the pact. Turkey is currently working through its own internal approval procedures, so the agreement is not yet active for all three signatories.

The pact was signed in Mecca by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It provides for collective defense if any of the three states faces an external armed attack. Islamabad has characterized the deal as a defensive measure that aligns with the United Nations Charter. The scope and level of assistance during a crisis will be determined by the specific circumstances of the threat.

Recent diplomatic meetings have pushed the agreement toward actual military implementation. A Strategic Political and Defence Committee met on October 5 and agreed that the three nations should deploy military forces and capabilities rapidly to Saudi Arabia. This deployment is subject to the domestic laws of each participating country. The committee emphasized that the collective defense commitments should be carried out effectively.

The timing of the ratification coincides with heightened security concerns in the region. Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence issued warnings this week about potential dangers in the southwestern cities of Abha and Khamis Mushait. Authorities later declared that the immediate danger had passed but advised residents to avoid gathering or filming in those areas. These alerts followed Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi infrastructure. Reuters reported on October 21 that Riyadh's allies were primarily providing defensive support to help protect the kingdom from further strikes.

Regional military activity is increasing as the conflict nears its eighth month. The Israeli military announced large-scale exercises for Sunday and Monday in the north and center of the country. These drills involve the air force and units from the Northern and Central Commands to rehearse scenarios of surprise attacks. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States might carry out another military operation against Iran. A report by The Business Times cited US officials who said that American and Israeli forces have drawn up plans for fresh strikes after the US midterm elections on November 3. Potential targets include Iranian energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and missile capabilities.