Houthi attacks on KSA
\nPakistani forces currently present in Saudi Arabia for training and logistical purposes, says FO spokesperson
\n Islamabad
\nAmid Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, Foreign Office Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan has said \u201cmore time is needed\u201d to implement the Makkah defence pact, an agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye aimed at providing collective defence in the event of aggression against any member.
\nAddressing a weekly press briefing on Thursday, the Foreign Office spokesperson said that Pakistani forces were currently present in Saudi Arabia for training and logistical purposes, while further aspects of defence cooperation would emerge soon. The FO\u2019s statement came in response to a question on how Pakistan plans to fulfil its obligations under the accord after Saudi Arabia was attacked by the Houthis.
\nThe Makkah trilateral agreement \u2014 signed between Islamabad, Riyadh and Ankara on August 7 \u2014 provides for collective security and defence cooperation among the three states.
\nThe defence agreement signed last month stipulates that an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack on all of them.
\nThe pact was signed amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following the conflict that began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran and targeted its senior leadership.
\nThe FO spokesperson, at weekly press briefing, strongly condemned the Houthi attacks on civilian and economic sites in Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed its \u201cunwavering support\u201d for the kingdom\u2019s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and prosperity.
\nHis statement comes a day after the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said the Houthis attacked the southern Saudi cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait and Jazan with ballistic missiles and drones, marking the second consecutive day of Houthi attacks on the kingdom.
\nMore than 70 people were injured on Tuesday after Houthis launched an attack on several cities in Saudi Arabia, further undermining stability in the Middle East.
\nEarlier this week, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that Houthi attacks on Saudi territory would invoke the Makkah Defence Alliance, a tripartite defence agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.
\n\u201cUnder the trilateral agreement, any aggression against any of the three [countries] is regarded as an aggression against all. There is no ambiguity about that,\u201d he said while speaking on Geo News\u2019 programme \u201cAaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath\u201d on Tuesday.
\nSpeaking during the show, the defence minister said that unprovoked aggression or the spillover from Yemen into Saudi Arabia \u201cwill definitely\u201d operationalise the Makkah Defence Alliance.
\n\u201cThere should be no doubt about it. We are bound by the terms and conditions of this pact, and we will honour them in case there is a need,\u201d he added.
\nHowever, Asif said that Islamabad hoped the situation would be brought under control and eventually subside.
\nFO condemns \u2018systematic\u2019 demolition of Muslim religious sites in India
\nThe Foreign Office spokesperson also condemned the \u201csystematic\u201d and \u201cstate-sanctioned\u201d demolition of Muslim places of worship in India.
\nResponding to a question, the spokesperson said Pakistan \u201cexpresses deep concern and condemns the systematic state-sanctioned demolition of Islamic holy places in India under different pretexts\u201d.
\nHe said the demolitions were in violation of the Liaquat-Nehru Pact signed in 1950, which guarantees the security and rights of religious minorities.
\nThe spokesperson also said the demolitions violated Indian laws, particularly the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. The law requires the religious character of places of worship to be maintained as it existed on August 15, 1947.
\nReferring to the recent demolition of a mosque in Uttar Pradesh, he said: \u201cThe Hindu-driven Islamophobic campaign has resulted in an imminent threat and the destruction of centuries-old heritage sites and places of worship.\u201d
\nHe cited the Akhonji Mosque, Ajgaib Shaheed Mosque and Saharanpur Collectorate Mosque, as well as the 1,000-year-old Ganj Shahida Mosque, which has recently received court notices.
\nThe spokesperson called on the international community to take action against continued persecution of Muslims in India.
\nHe also rejected a statement by India\u2019s Ministry of External Affairs regarding a Hindu temple in Narowal.
\n\u201cContrary to India\u2019s claim, the temple\u2019s structure was damaged in torrential rain,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Houthi attacks on KSA Pakistani forces currently present in Saudi Arabia for training and logistical purposes, says FO spokesperson Islamabad Amid Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, Foreign Office Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan has said \u201cmore time is needed\u201d to implement the Makkah defence pact, an agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye aimed at providing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":566552,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-566560","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-top-news"],"yoast_head":"\n