Pakistan says it will defend Saudi Arabia against any attack under expanded Mecca pact

Pakistan has announced its readiness to defend Saudi Arabia against any attack, reaffirming its commitment under the tri-nation Mecca joint defence agreement.

• Pakistan's government announced it is prepared to defend Saudi Arabia against any attack, reaffirming its commitment to the kingdom's security and stability.
• The Mecca joint defence agreement, extended in August to include Turkey, commits the three countries to treat an attack on one as an attack on all.
• Pakistani ministers and senior military figures confirmed an "unconditional" commitment to the pact, saying Islamabad would go "to any extent" to defend Saudi Arabia.
• Senate opposition leader Raja Nasir Abbas warned that entering the conflict would bring "chaos, instability and religious division" to Pakistan.
• Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey is ready to meet Saudi Arabia's military and security needs under the trilateral pact with Pakistan.
• Fidan said it is unacceptable for Saudi Arabia to be dragged into an American-Iranian war when it does not wish to join the conflict.
• Fidan stated that proposals to end the fighting related to Yemen had been conveyed to all concerned parties.
• Saudi Arabia announced its air defences intercepted a Houthi drone south of Mecca on September 15.
• Turkish and Pakistani officials said Riyadh had made no formal request for assistance under the joint defence pact.