The Media Line: Pakistan Defense Minister Calls Israel ‘Common Threat’ After Signing Defense Pact With Turkey and Saudi Arabia  

Pakistan Defense Minister Calls Israel ‘Common Threat’ After Signing Defense Pact With Turkey and Saudi Arabia  

By The Media Line Staff  

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif called on Islamic countries to unite against Israel following the signing of a mutual defense pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey that requires the three countries to respond collectively to an attack on any member.  

“The Islamic world must unite to confront the common threat posed by Israel,” Asif said after the agreement was signed. “Israel poses a threat to all of us. Islamic countries must adopt a coordinated approach to address this threat.”  

Asif’s latest comments on Israel follow similar statements he made in April 2026 that triggered a diplomatic dispute.  

At the time, the Pakistani defense minister wrote on social media that Israel was “evil”, a “curse for humanity,” and a “cancerous state.” Asif later deleted the post.  

The statements prompted sharp condemnation from Israeli leaders and complicated Pakistan’s diplomatic role.  

The three countries signed the agreement in Mecca on Friday, bringing together Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.  

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the pact establishes that an armed attack against any of the three countries will be treated as an attack against all of them. The agreement is intended to expand collective deterrence and defense cooperation among the three countries.  

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Saturday that the new arrangement effectively corresponds to NATO’s Article 5 collective defense commitment. However, he stressed that the agreement is not directed against Iran.  

Fidan told Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency that the alliance will establish a ministerial committee similar to the structure used by NATO. A general secretariat for the three-country framework will be based in Saudi Arabia.  

Egypt could also eventually join the alliance once outstanding technical issues are resolved, Fidan said.