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Mecca Pact Activated? Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey Meet Amid Houthi Threat Escalation
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News18•04-10-2026, 22:49
Mecca Pact Activated? Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey Meet Amid Houthi Threat Escalation
- •Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey's Strategic Political and Defence Committee will meet in Riyadh to address escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
- •The emergency meeting will involve foreign ministers, defence ministers, and army chiefs to discuss the pact's operational mechanisms and institutionalization.
- •The meeting follows a new wave of Houthi missile and drone attacks, including a claimed strike on an Aramco facility in Riyadh.
- •The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed on August 7, mandates collective defence, treating an attack on one as an attack on all three nations.
- •Pakistan has affirmed its commitment to the pact, with Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif stating Islamabad would provide "whatever means" to defend Saudi Arabia.
Key Questions Answered
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement is a collective security pact signed on August 7, 2026, by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, stating that an armed attack on one member is treated as an attack on all three.
The pact is facing its first major test due to a sharp escalation in fighting between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis, including a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi cities and energy infrastructure.
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif stated that Islamabad considers the agreement binding and would make whatever means available to defend Saudi Arabia, though he stopped short of confirming direct military involvement against the Houthis.
