Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye Convene Emergency Defense Meeting

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye will hold an emergency meeting of the Strategic Political Defence Committee in Riyadh next week to address a surge in Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. The meeting serves as a primary test for the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA), a trilateral security framework signed on August 7 that treats an attack on one member as an attack on all.

Ishaq Dar, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, announced that the alliance is strictly defensive and compared the arrangement to NATO. He reported that Saudi Arabia has faced between 17 and 18 attacks, including a strike on a power plant in Medina. To formalize the alliance's leadership, Pakistan has nominated retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood as the first secretary general of the pact.

Dar stated that at least six other countries have expressed interest in joining the agreement. While the alliance reviews its response, Dar noted that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi suggested political engagement with the Houthis and Iraqi armed groups, though the MJDA members have not yet adopted this proposal. Iran has denied links to the Houthis or Iraqi militias during discussions with Pakistan.

The committee is expected to meet again in late October or early November to conclude its current work and examine ground realities under the Makkah Accord.