RIYADH (The Thursday Times) — Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye decided at an emergency meeting in Riyadh on 5 October to “move immediately to the practical implementation of the collective defense commitments” under the Makkah Alliance for Defense, according to a joint statement issued after the talks.
The Strategic Political and Defense Committee, which brings together the three countries’ foreign ministers, defence ministers and military chiefs, met to address “the security developments and threats facing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” It agreed to “take the necessary measures to provide the agreed military forces and capabilities and ensure their rapid deployment in the Kingdom, in accordance with the approved arrangements and the national legislation of the Parties.”
The parties affirmed that “the security of each Party is an integral part of the collective security of the three countries,” and that putting the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defense into practice “strengthens the effectiveness of deterrence.” Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said on X that the committee “agreed to activate collective deterrence measures within the framework of the Alliance in response to the attacks and all those responsible for them,” as quoted by ANI.
The three countries “condemned in the strongest terms the attempted targeting of Makkah and Madinah,” as well as “the continuing attacks targeting cities and civilian and economic facilities in the Kingdom.” The statement does not name those responsible. Saudi Arabia and the coalition it leads in Yemen have attributed recent attacks, including a drone strike on a power station supplying the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, to the Houthis.
Pakistan and Türkiye “commended the vigilance and readiness of the Saudi Armed Forces,” as well as their “professionalism and high level of competence” in countering the threats. Pakistan’s delegation, according to the Foreign Office, included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
Pakistani officials have repeatedly pledged in recent weeks to defend Saudi Arabia and the holy cities. After the attempted drone attack on Makkah, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan “stands unwaveringly, shoulder to shoulder with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the defence of its sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as for the security and sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain.” DG ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry told Arab News that Pakistan “fully stands with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, both diplomatically and physically,” and described its commitment to Saudi security as unconditional. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said in Rome that “whatever means are available at our disposal, they’ll be available to Saudi Arabia also.
The committee also appointed Lieutenant General (retd) Nauman Mahmood of Pakistan as the alliance’s first Secretary-General for a three-year term. Pakistan had announced his selection on 23 September. The secretariat is to be based in Riyadh.
The meeting follows the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye on 7 August, the committee’s first meeting in Istanbul on 31 August, and a meeting of the three countries’ army chiefs in Riyadh on 25 September. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on 19 September that Ankara would have “no difficulty” meeting Saudi Arabia’s military needs under the pact.
