Pakistan signs off on tri-nation defense deal

Pakistan confirmed on Friday that it has completed the legal process to join a joint defense alliance with Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan stated that both Islamabad and Riyadh have finished their ratification procedures for the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. The three nations signed the document on 7 August. Khan noted that the parties are still discussing how to make the agreement operational.

Turkey has not yet finished its domestic approval process. Because of this delay, the pact is not yet fully active for all three signatories. The deal was signed in Mecca by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It promises collective defense if any of the three countries faces an external armed attack. The specific level of assistance will depend on the circumstances of the threat.

The agreement moved closer to implementation after a meeting on 5 October. The Strategic Political and Defence Committee of the three countries called for rapid deployment of military forces in Saudi Arabia. This deployment is subject to each country's internal laws. Islamabad describes the pact as defensive and consistent with the UN Charter.

The announcement coincides with renewed security alerts in Saudi Arabia. Civil Defence officials warned residents this week about potential dangers in the southwest, specifically in Abha and Khamis Mushait. Authorities later said the immediate threat had passed but asked people to follow safety instructions and avoid gathering in affected areas. The alerts came as Yemen's Houthis launched missile and drone attacks on the kingdom. Reuters reported on 21 October that Riyadh's allies are primarily offering defensive support to protect Saudi infrastructure.

Regional tensions remain high in other parts of the Middle East. The Israeli military announced large-scale exercises for Sunday and Monday in the north and center of the country. The drills involve the air force and units from the Northern and Central Commands. They will rehearse scenarios involving surprise air and land attacks. The military stated the exercises are meant to test readiness against attacks on multiple fronts.

These preparations occur as Washington and Tel Aviv reportedly consider renewed military action against Iran. President Trump said on Friday that the United States might carry out another operation against Iran. The conflict is approaching its eighth month. A report by The Business Times cited US officials who said American and Israeli forces have drawn up plans for fresh strikes after the US midterm elections on 3 November. Possible targets include Iranian energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and missile and drone capabilities.