The Pakistan Saudi Arabia Turkiye defence pact has moved from consultation to implementation, with the three countries agreeing to activate their collective defence commitments and prepare agreed military capabilities for rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia.
The decision was taken during an emergency meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee of the Makkah Alliance for Defence in Riyadh. The trilateral agreement, signed in August, establishes a framework under which an armed attack against one member is treated as an attack against all three.
Defence Pact Moves Into Implementation
A joint statement said the committee approved recommendations from earlier political and military consultations and ordered immediate steps towards implementing the collective defence commitments.
The statement did not provide details or a timeline for deploying troops. It also did not specifically identify the Houthis as the threat prompting the latest move, although the decision comes amid continuing Houthi attacks affecting Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan was represented at the meeting by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.
Asif said Pakistani and Turkish forces were playing a supportive role rather than taking part in combat operations, adding that Pakistan was involved in reconnaissance activities.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye Condemn Attacks
The three countries strongly condemned attempts to target Makkah and Madinah as well as attacks against Saudi cities and civilian and economic infrastructure.
Pakistan and Turkiye also praised the readiness of Saudi forces in responding to threats facing the Kingdom.
The committee appointed retired Pakistani General Nauman Mahmood as the first secretary-general of the alliance for a three-year term. The Strategic Political and Defence Committee includes the foreign ministers, defence ministers and army chiefs of the three member states.
Regional Security Situation
The Riyadh meeting took place as fighting involving Yemen’s Saudi-backed forces and the Houthis intensified. Defence chiefs from the three countries had already met in Riyadh last month to review threats facing Saudi Arabia, while their foreign ministers discussed regional challenges on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The latest meeting marks a significant step in putting the August defence agreement into practice. However, the three countries have not publicly disclosed specific deployment numbers or a timetable.
Conversation
Be kind and stay on topic. Comments are moderated; abuse, spam and personal attacks are removed. Report a problem