Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday characterized the Makkah Defense Alliance as a “historic" milestone for peace, unity and stability in the region as he reaffirmed Islamabad's “unwavering commitment” to the protection of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.

Sharif made the remarks during a meeting with the newly appointed Makkah Defense Alliance Secretary General, retired Lt. Gen. Nauman Mahmood, who briefed him on the strategy to promote defense and strategic cooperation under the pact, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office. Mahmood was appointed as the first secretary general of the defense alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye in August.

The pact allows member states to treat an attack on one as an attack on all. The meeting comes as Saudi Arabia has faced escalating tensions with Yemen’s Houthi group in recent weeks. Sharif reiterated that Pakistan stands "shoulder to shoulder” with Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has faced missile and drone attacks amid escalating hostilities with Houthis after a truce in the long-running war with Yemen’s coalition government unraveled in July. The Houthis have repeatedly attacked Saudi airports, oil facilities and tankers. A Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said Wednesday that it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis toward the Saudi capital, Riyadh, shortly after warning alerts were activated in the city and nearby Al-Kharj governorate. The Saudi-led military coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognized government has been in place since 2015 against the Houthis, who have controlled Sanaa and several provinces since 2014.