Former Pakistan Ambassador to the United States, China and the United Nations, Sardar Masood Khan, says the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement is not in jeopardy and its fundamental principle of collective defence remains intact.

In an article published by Al Jazeera Arabic, he said the recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and the wider security situation in the Red Sea and Bab-al-Mandab have raised questions about the practical application of the Makkah Agreement.

He noted that the situation also presents a diplomatic challenge for Pakistan, given its longstanding strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia and its efforts to promote dialogue and regional stability.

The former ambassador said the Makkah Agreement was conceived as a defensive arrangement aimed at collective deterrence and was not directed against any particular country.

He said the agreement envisages enhanced defence cooperation, including military exercises, interoperability, defence procurement, joint defence production, training and capacity-building.