Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have agreed to take steps for the rapid deployment of military forces in Saudi Arabia amid escalating tensions involving Yemen’s Houthis, according to a PTI report citing Dawn and Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
The decision followed an emergency meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee of the trilateral Makkah Defence Alliance in Riyadh on Monday. The discussions focused on security developments and threats facing the kingdom. The joint statement announced measures to implement collective defence commitments but did not provide troop numbers, deployment locations or a timetable.
Alliance moves towards implementing defence commitments
According to the report, the trilateral defence agreement signed in August establishes a framework for collective deterrence. It provides that an armed attack against one member would be regarded as an attack against all three.
At the Riyadh meeting, the committee agreed to move towards practical implementation of those commitments. This includes making agreed military forces and capabilities available and taking measures to enable their rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia.
The statement did not specifically identify the Houthis as the threat prompting the decision. However, the report placed the meeting against the backdrop of Houthi attacks on the kingdom.
Pakistan and Turkiye describe supportive military roles
Pakistan’s delegation included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir. Speaking to Geo News after the meeting, Asif said Pakistani and Turkish forces had a presence in the operational theatre but were performing supportive roles. He stated that only Saudi troops were involved in combat operations at that stage.
Asif also said Pakistan was contributing to reconnaissance and that assistance was being provided according to Saudi Arabia’s requirements. His remarks distinguished the support already being offered from the additional deployment measures discussed by the committee. No detailed schedule for those measures was disclosed.
Joint statement condemns attacks on Saudi cities
The three alliance members condemned what the statement described as attempted attacks targeting the holy cities of Makkah and Madina. They also denounced continuing attacks on Saudi cities, civilian facilities and economic infrastructure.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, Pakistan and Turkiye praised the Saudi armed forces for their readiness and professionalism in countering threats and protecting the kingdom’s security and territorial integrity.
Yemen military campaign adds to regional tensions
The emergency meeting took place after Yemen’s Saudi-led coalition government launched a major military campaign on Sunday to recapture Houthi-held territory, according to the report.
The developments place the alliance’s collective defence arrangements under closer scrutiny as regional tensions intensify. The announced measures indicate plans for greater military coordination, while the absence of deployment details leaves the scale and timing unclear. Further official announcements would be needed to establish the number of personnel involved, their assignments and when any additional forces would arrive.
