Summary Foreign, defence chiefs and military commanders join three-way security discussions
RIYADH (Dunya News) – Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have held an emergency meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee in Riyadh to review regional security developments and strengthen cooperation under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
The meeting brought together the foreign ministers, defence ministers and chiefs of the armed forces of all three countries in a 3+3 format. Pakistan was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
The Saudi and Turkish sides were represented by their respective foreign and defence ministers and military chiefs.
Emergency session
The session was convened ahead of the next regular committee meeting, which is scheduled for the end of October or beginning of November. Ishaq Dar had confirmed that the emergency meeting was being called because of the latest security situation involving Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.
According to Dar, 17 drone attacks were carried out against Saudi Arabia between September 21 and 22, prompting the three countries to discuss the situation and determine a way forward.
The committee reviewed the latest regional developments and ongoing cooperation under the Makkah Agreement. Pakistan's Foreign Office said its participation reflected the country's resolve to continue contributing towards regional peace and stability.
The talks also follow a meeting last month between senior military commanders from the three countries, where they discussed threats facing Saudi Arabia and agreed to deepen defence cooperation and intelligence sharing.
At that meeting, the commanders strongly condemned attacks targeting Makkah and Saudi civilian and economic infrastructure. They also commended the Saudi armed forces for their vigilance and professionalism in protecting civilians and safeguarding the Kingdom's security.
The commanders discussed measures to expand cooperation between their armed forces, including intelligence sharing, military coordination and the integration of military capabilities.
Makkah Defence Agreement
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye on August 7, 2026, during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah. The agreement commits the three countries to enhancing collective security, strengthening defence cooperation and promoting peace and stability in the region and beyond.
Under the agreement, the three countries have established a joint mechanism to coordinate political and defence matters. Its secretariat has been established in Riyadh and is operational, while Pakistan has appointed the agreement's first Secretary-General.
Pakistan has also assigned two officers to support the mechanism, one from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and another from the military. Both have travelled to Saudi Arabia and are coordinating with senior Saudi and Turkish officials to make the agreement fully operational.
Dar said the implementation process is expected to take at least one year, while the next regular meeting of the committee is expected at the end of October or early November.
