The Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan stated on Thursday that the Makkah Defence Alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye is a "defensive alliance" aimed at ensuring regional security through deterrence. The pact, signed on August 7, currently has no plans for expansion, with the three countries focusing on consolidating their organization and cooperation first. According to Khan, information on future meetings will be shared "on an ongoing basis", but exact timing is not yet known. Pakistan's Foreign Office also condemned the demolition of Muslim worship sites in India, calling it a "systematic" and "state-sanctioned" act that breaches Indian laws and international agreements.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-10,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that the Makkah Defence Alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye could become operational if there is a "spillover" of the conflict in Yemen into Riyadh. The warning comes after Houthi rebels launched attacks on oil installations in Saudi Arabia, injuring 73 people and sparking concerns about further escalation in the West Asia conflict.
The Makkah Defence Alliance, signed on August 7, aims to strengthen collective deterrence and empower its signatory states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all. Asif stated that there is no "ambiguity" about the pact's terms, and if there is a spillover of the Yemen conflict into Saudi Arabia, the alliance will become operational.
The attacks by Houthi rebels in Saudi Arabia have been condemned by India, with External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stating that such attacks undermine regional security and stability. The Houthis have been backed by Iran, which has been under US economic sanctions.
The conflict between the Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed government forces in Yemen has escalated, with reports of significant gains made by pro-Saudi forces against the Houthis. However, the Houthis have vowed to continue their operations, and the situation remains volatile.
In response to the attacks, Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry strongly condemned the Houthi militia's targeting of civilian and economic sites, vowing a firm response. The kingdom has also called for an "immediate halt" to all forms of escalation by the Houthis.
The conflict has raised concerns about global energy supplies, with operations at some Saudi energy facilities halted following the attacks. The situation remains complex, with multiple countries involved in the conflict and a history of proxy wars in the region.
Written for “Yemen Conflict Escalation” on 2026-09-12,
grounded in this article and the 9 other(s) covering the same event.
The Foreign Office (FO) said on Thursday that the Makkah Defence Alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye was “defensive” in nature, adding that expansion of the pact was currently “not on the cards”.
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expansion → say → cards
FO spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan made the remarks while addressing a weekly press briefing.
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Khan → make → briefing
He said that the pact was primarily a “defensive alliance to ensure regional security primarily through deterrence”.
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pact → say → deterrence
He said that expansion of the pact was currently “not on the cards”, adding that “Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye must first further consolidate their organisation and cooperation”.
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Pakistan → say → organisation
He said that following the consolidation, the agreement will be “open to all countries that share similar stances and perspectives”.
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that → say → stances
The spokesperson said that the three member states were holding consultations at various levels under the framework.
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states → say → framework
He reiterated that the states will make a decision on the agreement’s expansion at a later stage.
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states → reiterate → stage
“At this stage, there are no discussions regarding the expansion of the Makkah agreement,” he said.
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he → be → agreement
He said information on future meetings will be shared “on an ongoing basis”, adding that exact timing was not yet known.
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timing → say → basis
Khan said the pact was in the initial stage of formation and detailed consultations on “its structure, procedures and other matters” will be held.
“Significant work lies ahead to finalise the organisation’s structure, mechanisms, and procedures,” he said, adding that any future developments will become clear in due course.
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developments → say → course
The defence pact, signed on Aug 7, aims to strengthen collective deterrence and empower its signatory states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them.
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pact → sign → them
Its inaugural meeting was held on August 31 in Istanbul, where it was decided that a secretariat headed by a secretary general will be established in Saudi Arabia to support the alliance’s work under the agreement.
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secretariat → hold → agreement
The secretariat will initially be headed by a secretary general from Pakistan for a period of three years.
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secretariat → head → years
‘State-sanctioned’ demolition of Muslim worship sites in India condemned
The FO spokesperson also condemned what he described as the “systematic” and “state-sanctioned” demolition of Muslim worship sites in India.
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he → sanction → India
In response to a question about how Pakistan planned to build more pressure on the Indian government regarding the issue of demolition of worship sites, given the demolition of a mosque in India’s Saharanpur on September 5, the spokesperson said, “Pakistan expresses deep concern and condemns the systematic state-sanctioned demolition of Islamic holy places in India under different pretexts”.
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Pakistan → plan → pretexts
Khan held that the demolitions were in breach of the Liaquat-Nehru Pact signed in 1950, which the spokesperson said guaranteed the security and rights of religious minorities.
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spokesperson → hold → minorities
He noted that the ongoing repression also breached India’s own laws, particularly the Places of Worship Special Provisions Act, 1991, which he said mandated the maintenance of the religious character of places of worship “as it existed on August 15, 1947”.
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it → note → August
Referring to the recent demolition of a mosque in Uttar Pradesh, he noted: “The Hindu-driven Islamophobic campaign has resulted in an imminent threat and the destruction of centuries-old heritage sites and places of worship, including the Akhonji, Ajgaib Shaeed Mosque, the Saharanapur Collectorate mosque, as well as the 1,000-year-old mosque, Ganj Shahida mosque, which has recently received notices from the court.”
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which → refer → court
He recalled that the 1992 demolition of the Babri mosque remained a “dreadful memory of this ideology of religious intolerance, prejudice, and hatred”.
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demolition → recall → intolerance
Explaining what steps Pakistan planned to take towards the issue, Khan said, “Pakistan calls upon the international community to take immediate notice of this systematic persecution in India against Muslims and continued desecration and destruction of their places of worship”.
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Pakistan → explain → worship
In the weekly briefing, Khan also issued a categorical rejection of a statement made by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs over a Hindu temple in Narowal.
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Khan → issue → Narowal
“Contrary to India’s claim, the temple’s structure was damaged in torrential rain,” he said.
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he → damage → rain
Yasin Malik’s decision to forgo defence ‘damning indictment’ of Indian judicial system
The spokesperson was also asked about the recent implication of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)’s incarcerated chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik, in a case from 1990.
Malik was named in June by India’s State Investigation Agency (SIA) as one of five men charged with the killing of Sarla Bhat.
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Malik → forgo → Bhat
However, he submitted an affidavit stating that he had decided not to contest the trial and that his decision should not be treated as an admission of guilt or acceptance of the prosecution’s allegations.
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decision → submit → allegations
Referring to Malik’s action, the FO said, “The stance taken by Yasin Malik is beyond an act of heroism.
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stance → refer → heroism
It is a damning indictment of the Indian judicial system, which has acted as a convenient tool in the hands of the Indian government, suppressing the Kashmiri people and depriving them of any recourse to justice”.
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which → act → justice
Khan held that in repudiating the right to defence, Malik has “struck a stinging blow to the judicial sham that the Indian government wanted to stage in its sinister campaign to malign the Kashmiri leadership”.
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government → hold → leadership
The spokesperson also expressed concern at Malik’s deteriorating health.
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spokesperson → express → health
“The international community must not allow the Indian design to mortgage his life and well-being to advance its oppressive occupation of the IIOK,” he said, adding that Pakistan condemned the prosecution of Malik.
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Pakistan → allow → Malik
The FO spokesperson urged the UN and other humanitarian bodies to take note of Malik’s situation.
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spokesperson → urge → situation
