By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to its security partnership with Saudi Arabia as regional tensions continue to put pressure on Gulf security and maritime trade.

Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan has previously said Pakistan would implement its defence commitments with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye under the recently established Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, while emphasizing that the arrangement is defensive in nature.

The agreement brings Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye into a framework under which an armed attack against one member is treated as an attack against all three. Pakistani officials have described the pact as an effort to strengthen regional deterrence, defence cooperation, training and military capacity-building.

Khan has stressed that the agreement is not directed against any particular country.

He has also said that Pakistan already maintains a longstanding defence relationship with Saudi Arabia and that Pakistani personnel are present in the Kingdom for training and other purposes.

The comments come amid heightened regional tensions involving Saudi Arabia, Iran and Yemen's Houthi terrorists.

He nevertheless reaffirmed that Pakistan would act according to the requirements of its defence agreements with Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained close political, economic and defence relations for decades, with cooperation extending from military training to energy, investment and labour.

The Makkah agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye has added a new multilateral dimension to those security ties.

Khan has described the pact as an “umbrella” arrangement under which additional mechanisms could be developed. He said operational details would depend on circumstances and would remain subject to confidentiality.

Pakistan has also emphasized that its partnership with Riyadh is aimed at regional stability rather than the creation of a new military bloc.

The agreement was followed by intensified consultations among Pakistani, Saudi and Turkish officials on regional security. Senior officials from the three countries have discussed defence cooperation, capacity-building, military technology and mechanisms for collective deterrence.

- Regional tensions

Saudi Arabia's security concerns have increased amid continuing instability across the Middle East and attacks involving the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist group in Yemen.

During recent discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stressed the importance of uninterrupted energy supplies and safe passage for ships, particularly because disruption in regional waterways can have wider consequences for developing economies and global supply chains.

Khan has repeatedly said Pakistan's defence arrangements with Saudi Arabia are defensive and intended to contribute to regional stability.