ISLAMABAD - Remarks by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir describing Pakistan as a divinely chosen protector of the Two Holy Mosques have resurfaced and gained renewed traction following the formalisation of the Makkah Defence Alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye.

🇵🇰 Field Marshal Asim Munir once said Pakistan is blessed and chosen by Allah to protect the two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah.

This is what every Muslim wants: keep political wars away from the Holy Sites. Any threat to them will face severe consequences. pic.twitter.com/70QoYHLAzo

- Zard si Gana (@ZardSi) September 15, 2026

The 'Muhafiz-e-Haramain' Address

Speaking at the National Ulema and Mashaikh Conference in Islamabad on December 10, 2025, the Chief of Defence Forces stated: "Allah Almighty has bestowed upon Pakistan the honour of being the guardian of the Haramain among the Islamic countries" . He drew parallels between the founding of Pakistan and the state established in the Arabian Peninsula 1,400 years ago, noting both were founded during Ramadan and rooted in the Kalima Tayyaba .

Field Marshal Munir also asserted that "in any Islamic state, no one except the state has the authority to declare jihad or issue a fatwa" . He cited what he described as divine support during Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, Pakistan's retaliatory operation against India in May 2025 .

Context: The Saudi Defence Pact

The "Muhafiz-e-Haramain" framing is widely understood as a reference to the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on September 17, 2025 . This agreement laid the foundation for what became the Makkah Defence Alliance, formally institutionalised in August 2026 with Türkiye's inclusion.

Analysts note the title serves a dual purpose: it reinforces Pakistan's strategic partnership with the Kingdom while also appealing to Pakistan's influential clerical establishment amid domestic political and economic pressures .

Strategic Implications

The remarks carry significant weight in the context of the newly formed Makkah Defence Alliance. Under the alliance's collective defence clause, any attack on Saudi Arabia would be treated as an attack on all member states, including Pakistan .

The framing of Pakistan as a "protector" of the Holy Sites also aligns with the alliance's stated objective of keeping political and military conflicts away from the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah .

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has since stated there is "not a single doubt" that Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia would trigger the alliance's collective response, warning that "the response will be harsh."