Brief
Foreign Office says Makkah Alliance will not launch attacks from Yemen
The alliance will focus on defending Saudi territory and rejects claims of Pakistani jets operating in Yemen.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan told a weekly press briefing in Islamabad on Friday that the Makkah defence alliance – linking Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia – is intended solely to defend the three nations against aggression and will not launch attacks from Yemeni territory.
Khan said the three countries are moving toward practical implementation of their collective defence commitments under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA). The agreement includes measures to strengthen military readiness, integration and coordination, and to provide agreed forces and capabilities for rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia, in line with each nation’s laws.
When asked whether the alliance could engage Houthi forces in Yemen, Khan reiterated that "These forces would not cross the border into Yemen to launch attacks against the Houthis," emphasizing that the pact is defensive, not offensive, toward Saudi Arabia.
The spokesperson also dismissed reports that Pakistani fighter jets had taken part in cross‑border operations, calling them false. He referenced the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last year and noted that Pakistani troops have been present in Saudi Arabia in various capacities since 1982, sometimes under logistical arrangements and sometimes as part of training missions.
Key facts
- The Makkah defence alliance includes Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. (dailytimes.com.pk)
- The alliance is intended to defend the three countries and will not launch attacks from Yemen. (dailytimes.com.pk)
- Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan rejected claims of Pakistani jets operating in Yemen. (dailytimes.com.pk)
- The MJDA includes measures for rapid deployment of forces in Saudi Arabia under national laws. (dailytimes.com.pk)
- Pakistani forces have been present in Saudi Arabia in various roles since 1982. (dailytimes.com.pk)
Sources
- [1] dailytimes.com.pk — originally reported as “Makkah Alliance forces won’t enter Yemen, will defend Saudi Arabia: FO”
