Makkah defence pact committee meets in Riyadh today amid Yemen escalation
Foreign ministers, defence chiefs and army commanders from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye gather in Riyadh on Monday for a Makkah Defence Alliance committee meeting as Yemen's government launches a major offensive against the Houthis.
The strategic political and defence committee of the Makkah Defence Alliance will meet in Riyadh on Monday, with senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye expected to attend, the Turkish and Pakistani foreign ministries confirmed.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir will represent Islamabad. The meeting “will discuss latest developments in the region and review ongoing cooperation under the framework of the Makkah Agreement”, the ministry said.
Turkiye’s foreign ministry said Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler and chief of the general staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu will attend alongside Saudi and Pakistani officials.
The talks come a day after the leader of Yemen’s Saudi-backed government announced a major military operation against the Iran-backed Houthis. Dar said on Friday that Iran had suggested engaging the Houthis politically after their recent attacks, a proposal he said would be discussed by the pact’s committee. Earlier, Dar said Saudi Arabia had faced 17 to 18 attacks and that Pakistan was “bound to defend Saudi Arabia”.
The three countries signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7, pledging to treat an armed attack against any one of them as an attack against all.
Sources
- Reuters — Turkey says Mecca pact committee to meet in Riyadh on October 5: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/turkey-says-mecca-pact-committee-meet-riyadh-october-5-2026-10-04/
- Arab News Pakistan — Pakistan’s foreign, defense ministers, army chief to attend Makkah defense pact talks today: https://www.arabnews.pk/pakistan/pakistans-foreign-defense-ministers-army-chief-to-attend-makkah-defense-pact-talks-today-3003210
- Geo News (AFP) — Turkiye says Makkah pact committee to meet in Riyadh today: https://www.geo.tv/latest/685001-turkiye-says-makkah-pact-committee-to-meet-in-riyadh-on-october-5
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