Information ministry rejects Reuters report on Makkah defence pact as ‘speculative’

Pakistan’s Ministry of Info and Broadcasting on Tuesday rejected what it described as “speculative” reporting by Reuters on the Makkah Joint Defence Settlement, saying operational particulars regarding the implementation of the collective deterrence mechanism had been confidential.

The ministry’s fact-check adopted a Reuters report revealed on October 2 which mentioned Pakistan had deployed between 30,000 and 40,000 troops to Saudi Arabia to assist defend the dominion’s land borders and help with drone and missile interceptions, citing a Pakistani official. Reuters reported that Islamabad had not determined to ship troops into Yemen in a preventing capability.

In an announcement issued right now, the ministry reiterated Pakistan’s dedication to the safety of Saudi Arabia and the Haramain Sharifain — Islam’s two holiest mosques in Makkah and Madina — describing that dedication as “non-negotiable”.

“Having taken observe of speculative stories by Reuters on the Makkah Joint Defence Settlement, it’s reiterated that Pakistan has already made Pakistan’s dedication to the safety of Haramain Sharifain and KSA abundantly clear, which is non-negotiable,” mentioned the assertion.

The ministry urged in opposition to counting on “extremely speculative stories based mostly on non-attributable and unknown sources”, saying Reuters ought to as a substitute seek advice from official statements from the Ministry of International Affairs and different authorities.

“Queries, if any, could also be referred to them as a substitute of popping out with invented numbers and particulars,” it mentioned.

The ministry’s fact-check got here a day after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye agreed to maneuver instantly in direction of implementing their collective defence commitments and deploying agreed army forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia. The choice was taken at an emergency assembly of the Strategic-Political and Defence Committee of the Makkah Alliance for Defence in Riyadh on October 5.

Underneath the choice, the committee directed the required measures to supply the agreed forces and capabilities and guarantee their fast deployment in Saudi Arabia, in accordance with permitted preparations and the nationwide laws of the three international locations. It mentioned the transfer would improve “readiness, army integration, and the collective capability to confront and counter threats”.

On August 7, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye formalised their longstanding strategic relationship via the newly signed MJDA, a trilateral safety framework that its proponents describe as a defensive association geared toward strengthening collective deterrence, enhancing army cooperation and selling regional stability.

Houthi assaults

Houthis have repeatedly carried out missile and drone assaults in opposition to Saudi Arabia for the reason that Yemen conflict escalated in 2015, concentrating on army installations, airports, oil services and different crucial infrastructure.

In September 2019, the group claimed duty for drone assaults on Saudi Aramco’s Abqaiq processing facility and Khurais oil subject, assaults that briefly disrupted greater than half of Saudi Arabia’s crude manufacturing.

The assaults continued in subsequent years, together with strikes on Saudi vitality infrastructure in March 2022.

Extra lately, Houthi assaults have once more focused Saudi territory. In September, the group claimed missile and drone strikes on a Saudi army base and different targets, whereas Saudi authorities reported assaults affecting a number of cities.

It’s price noting that on September 25, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye senior army management strongly condemned assaults concentrating on the holy metropolis of Makkah as they reaffirmed their dedication to the collective defence of the Kingdom underneath the Makkah Joint Defence Settlement.

Learn: Makkah defence alliance agrees to ‘fast power deployment’ in Saudi Arabia: FO

A day after that, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman reaffirmed continued joint efforts to confront assaults concentrating on Makkah and civilian and financial services within the Kingdom throughout a gathering with the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Military Employees Subject Marshal Asim Munir.

Then, on September 27, Defence Minister Asif additionally reiterated the resolve to implement the Makkah Joint Defence Settlement amid the rising Houthis assaults on Saudi Arabia and mentioned that each Pakistan and Türkiye would stand with Saudi Arabia virtually and diplomatically in case of any aggression.

Asif additional harassed that defending Saudi Arabia fell underneath divine obligation.

“If there wasn’t an settlement, if Saudi Arabia had been attacked, particularly if the sacred cities of Makkah and Madinah had been attacked, then we’re certain by an everlasting settlement; that’s, we are going to shield the Home of God and Madinah,” he said in an interview to a personal channel.

He additionally outlined that the “worldly settlement” referring to the MJDA between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye to guard each other, would function in all circumstances.

Significance of the Makkah Joint Defence Settlement

The MJDA was the most recent step in longstanding army and strategic cooperation between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. Signed in Makkah, the pact established a framework for collective deterrence and stipulated that an armed assault on any one of many three international locations could be thought of an assault on all three, whereas offering for wider cooperation throughout defence.

The settlement adopted almost a yr of negotiations and got here amid heightened instability throughout the Center East. Turkiye and Pakistan had sought nearer regional safety cooperation, whereas Saudi Arabia had confronted rising safety issues as conflicts unfold throughout the area, threatening its territory, vitality infrastructure and bold financial improvement plans.

For Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the trilateral pact is constructed on their Strategic Mutual Defence Settlement signed in September 2025. That settlement said that “any aggression in opposition to both nation shall be thought of an aggression in opposition to each” and dedicated the 2 sides to strengthening defence cooperation and joint deterrence.