ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have completed the ratification of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, the Foreign Office said on Friday, as the three participating countries progressed on the implementation of the pact amid escalating tensions over attacks on Saudi Arabia by Yemen`s Ansar Allah movement.

`Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have already completed their ratification processes, while Turkiye is undertaking the requisite procedures in accordance with its domestic legal framework,` Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said at the ministry`s weekly media briefing.

The Makkah Joint DefenceAgreement signed on Aug 7 by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye provides a framework for collective assistance in the event of external armed aggression against any of the three countries, with the nature and extent of assistance to be determined collectively in light of the circumstances.

The pact moved towards implementation after an Oct 5 meeting of the alliance`s Strategic, Political and Defence Committee in Riyadh called for the immediate implementation of collective defence commitments and the rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia of military forces and capabilities already agreed upon, subject to the national legislation of the parties.

`The committee decided to move immediately to the practi-cal implementation of the collective defence commitments and to take the necessary measures to provide the agreed military forces and capabilities and ensure their rapid deployment in the kingdom, in accordance with the approved arrangements and the national legislation of the parties,` the joint statement issued after the meeting said.

The ratification process has drawn attention to the different constitutional procedures followed by the three countries.

In Pakistan, the conduct of foreign relations and the signing and ratification of international agreements fall within the executive`s authority, under Articles 90 and 99 of the Constitution and Rule 16(1)(h) of the Rules of Business, 1973. Parliamentary approval is generally not required unless implementing an agreement requires changes to domestic law.

Parliament, therefore, had no formal role in ratifying the agreement.

However, successive governments have occasionally referred contentious foreign policy and security matters to parliament, including Pakistan`s involvement in the Yemen conflict in 2015 and the renegotiation of Nato supply routes in 2011.

Turkiye, meanwhile, submitted the agreement to its parliament on Oct 20 for ratification.

`Each country follows its own constitutional and legal procedures for the approval and ratification of international agreements,` Mr Khan said.

The text of the agreement had not been made public by Pakistan`s government or shared with parliament.

It instead became available to Pakistani audiences after Turkiye submitted the pact to its parliament, leading to a copy being published in the media. Asked about the document, the spokesperson confirmed its authenticity.

`We endorse the text released in the media from the Turkish Parliament. There are no hidden provisions; the agreement is explicit and clear in its provisions and articles,` he said. The agreement`s mutual defence commitment has also raised questions about Pakistan`s position should the conflict involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen`s Houthi movement escalate.

The FO, however, reiterated Islamabad`s support for a negotiated settlement in Yemen, while condemning attacks on Saudi Arabia.

`Our position has been clear and consistent. We support Yemen`s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity and believe that a lasting solution to the conflict can only be achieved through dialogue and anegotiated political settlement,` Mr Khan said.

He said Pakistan continued to advocate de-escalation and supported diplomatic initiatives aimed at restoring peace, while reaffirming its commitment to Saudi Arabia`s security.

`At the same time, we unequivocally condemn attacks against Saudi Arabia and reaffirm our commitment to the Kingdom`s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security,` he said. Mr Khan said Pakistan remained supportive of meaningful diplomatic engagement to end hostilities and achieve a durable political settlement.

Iran trade stoppage The FO spokesperson remained evasive about the status of commercial trade with Iran, avoiding confirmation of whether or not normal operations had resumed at border crossings.

Asked about the situation at the crossings, Mr Khan said he did not have direct knowledge of the circumstances on the ground, but quickly added that pilgrims continued to travel across the border.

`Regarding the situation on the ground, I do not have direct knowledge of the current circumstances and am not privy to those details.

However, I can say that Zaireen [pilgrims] continue to travel back and forth,` he said.

The pilgrims` reference suggested that while there may be issues with the movement of commercial goods, the border itself remained open, and people kept moving across it.

The spokesperson did not directly address the status of commercial shipments, which have remained disrupted since Pakistan suspended trade with Iran at the Taftan and Gabd-Rimdan crossings almost a week ago.

The disruption followed the commerce ministry`s withdrawal, effective Oct 16, of a waiver that had exempted Iranian imports from Pakistan`s Electronic Import Formrequirement, which halted freight clearances at the border crossings.

Pakistani authorities described the restrictions, which came weeks after the US launched Operation Economic Outcast tightening sanctions against Iran, as a temporary measure aimed at addressing security concerns, curbing smuggling and strengthening border management.

Iranian authorities, meanwhile, have attributed the disruption to technicalissues and said consultations were underway to restore normal operations.

The suspension stranded hundreds of trucks carrying liquefied petroleum gas, rice, fruit and other goods at the border, raising concerns about supplies, particularly LPG imports that had been moving through the Gabd-Rimdan crossing.

During CDF Munir`s visit to Tehran on Oct 21, it was said that border issues had been resolved and crossings had been reopened.

However, subsequent reports indicated that commercial traffic had only resumed for a short time, with freight movements still constrained by the absence of the waiver.

In his remarks on Friday, Mr Khan also stressed Pakistan`s commitment to international sanctions regimes and its relationship with Washington, without directly linking those considerations to the suspension of trade with Iran.

`Pakistan, as a responsible member of the international community, adheres to and shall continue to adhere to all applicable sanctions regimes in accordance with international and domestic laws,` he said.

He added that Pakistan valued its strategic partnership with the US and remained committed to strengthening diplomatic, economic and security ties with Washington.

`Pakistan highly values its enduring and multifaceted strategic partnership with the United States and remains fully committed to further strengthening our diplomatic, economic, and security ties with Washington,` Mr Khan added.