Pakistan, KSA, Turkiye review institutionalisation of Makkah defence pact

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have reviewed progress towards establishing the institutional structures under Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.

This came at a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

In a post on X handle, DPM Dar said they also exchanged views on regional and international security issues.

During the meeting, the ministers reviewed progress made towards establishing the General Secretariat and Committees and working groups under the Agreement, as well as preparations for the commencement of their work, the Foreign Office (FO) said later in a press release.

Read More: Saudi King Salman condemns Houthis as ‘terrorist militia’ in rare statement

They also discussed plans to convene an urgent meeting of the chiefs of staff of the three countries to explore ways to assist the Kingdom under the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, which stipulates that an attack against any one of its parties shall be considered an attack against all parties.

“The ministers further discussed the current situation in the region, underscoring the importance of upholding the principles of international law, good neighbourliness, mutual respect for the sovereignty of states, and non-interference in their internal affairs, as well as ensuring the security and freedom of navigation,” the FO said.

It further said they reiterated their determination to work together towards achieving sustainable peace and stability in the region, support efforts towards de-escalation and encourage peaceful resolution to crises.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan will hold an urgent, high-level meeting under a joint defence pact to discuss ways to support the kingdom amid attacks by ​Yemen’s Houthis, while Tehran sought to distance itself from the rapid advance of its Houthi allies.

The Houthis have launched strikes on the Saudi-backed government in Yemen and repeatedly fired ‌into Saudi Arabia, disrupting oil flows from the world’s largest energy exporter, as part of a wider Middle East war that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February.

The Houthis said they had fired dozens of missiles and drones at Saudi targets on Thursday, while authorities in Saudi Arabia said they had intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by Houthi fighters.

Saudi Arabia earlier had issued emergency alerts for areas including the holy city of Makkah, Jeddah and Yanbu, the main Saudi Red ​Sea oil port.

Saudi Arabia’s top religious authority called on soldiers in the kingdom to be ready to lay down their lives to fight the Houthis until the group is ousted from power, ​a statement posted on the Saudi state news agency said.