A committee representing the Makkah defence pact, which includes Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, is scheduled to hold discussions in Riyadh on Monday, October 5. Turkish ministers will be among the attendees, as confirmed by the Turkish foreign ministry on Sunday.
In a significant development, the leader of Yemen’s Saudi-backed government declared the launch of a major military operation against the Iran-aligned Houthi forces earlier on Sunday. The operation aims to reclaim territories currently under Houthi control.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s foreign minister revealed on Friday that Iran had proposed a political engagement with Yemen’s Houthis following recent attacks by the group. This proposal is expected to be a key topic during the upcoming Makkah defence pact committee meeting in Riyadh.
The Turkish statement highlighted that the meeting will focus on recent regional developments and the progress made in institutionalizing the alliance. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler, and Chief of the General Staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu will participate in the strategic political and defence committee meeting, alongside representatives from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
In September, Pakistan announced the appointment of Lt-Gen (retd) Nauman Mahmood as the first secretary general of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, which binds Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. The Foreign Office expressed satisfaction with this appointment, emphasizing Pakistan’s commitment to the pact.
Pakistan remains dedicated to the implementation of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in both intent and spirit. However, details regarding the timing, location, and nature of Pakistan’s operational response to threats will remain confidential, Foreign Office spokesperson Ambassador Sajjad Haider Khan.
Addressing questions about Pakistan’s responsibilities under the pact amid ongoing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, Khan affirmed Islamabad’s commitment to both the Makkah pact and the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement. He stressed that specifics about the deployment of forces, objectives, and operational methods require discretion at this stage.
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