Senior Correspondent, Dhaka:
Pakistan, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia have agreed to accelerate the implementation of their joint defense pact, including arrangements for the rapid deployment of military forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia, amid escalating security tensions linked to Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The decision was announced following an emergency meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee (SPDC) of the Makkah Defense Alliance in Riyadh, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
The committee agreed to translate the alliance’s collective defense commitments into practical measures, subject to approved arrangements and the national laws of the three countries. The move signals an effort to strengthen military coordination, operational readiness, and deterrence as Saudi Arabia faces continued attacks.
The meeting did not explicitly identify a specific threat prompting the decision. However, it came amid renewed fighting involving the Saudi-backed coalition and the Houthis in Yemen, alongside reported missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi territory and facilities.
Pakistan and Türkiye reaffirmed their support for Saudi Arabia’s security and territorial integrity, condemning attacks targeting the kingdom, including attempted strikes involving the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistani and Turkish forces were playing supportive roles, while Saudi troops remained directly engaged in combat operations. He indicated that Pakistan was providing assistance, including reconnaissance, as the three countries worked to establish the alliance’s operational structure.
The committee also appointed retired Pakistani Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood as the alliance’s first secretary general for a three-year term, marking a step towards institutionalizing the defense framework.
Signed on August 7, the Makkah Pact for Joint Defense seeks to strengthen collective deterrence and establish a framework under which an attack against one member is treated as an attack against all.
The latest decision could deepen security cooperation among the three countries and reinforce Saudi Arabia’s regional defense arrangements. However, the extent of any military deployment, the forces involved, and the operational conditions remain unclear.
The pact’s practical significance will ultimately depend on how its collective defense commitments are implemented, particularly if attacks on Saudi Arabia intensify and require a broader response from its partners.
