Pakistan says agreed military forces to be rapidly deployed in Saudi Arabia

Pakistan, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia have reached an agreement to swiftly deploy military forces in the kingdom, following an emergency meeting of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Riyadh. This decision was made after discussing security developments and threats affecting Saudi Arabia at the Strategic Political and Defence Committee (SPDC) of the Makkah Defence Alliance.

The meeting aimed to implement collective defense commitments and ensure rapid deployment of agreed military capabilities in line with national legislation, enhancing readiness, military integration, and the ability to counter threats.

The three nations condemned the attempts to target Makkah and Madina, as well as ongoing attacks on civilian and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia, reaffirming their strong rejection of any attacks or threats against the kingdom's security and territorial integrity. Pakistan and Turkiye praised the Saudi armed forces' vigilance and professionalism in countering threats and safeguarding the kingdom's security.

During the meeting, Pakistan's Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, mentioned that Saudi Arabia had made gains in Yemen and recovered some areas following the ongoing fighting with the Houthis. He also stated that Pakistan and Turkiye had a presence in the region but were providing support rather than engaging in combat operations. Pakistan's involvement is primarily focused on reconnaissance missions.

The meeting focused on formalizing the operational structure of the Makkah alliance, with Pakistan's Lieutenant General (Retd) Nauman Mahmood appointed as the first secretary general for a three-year term. The Makkah defence pact, signed on August 7, aims to strengthen collective deterrence and empower signatory states to treat an attack against one as an attack against all.