Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Makkah Pact Committee to Meet Over Houthi Attacks
Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia have a defence agreement called the Makkah pact.
Their senior officials plan to meet in Riyadh next week.
Pakistan’s foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, said the emergency meeting will discuss Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
The three countries’ foreign ministers had already discussed regional security in New York.
Their army chiefs also met in Riyadh on September 25.
Dar said Iran denied being associated with the Houthis and an Iraqi militia.
He said Iran preferred political engagement with the Houthis instead of military action.
Dar also said at least six other countries were interested in joining the pact, but he did not name them.
Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Political Defence Committee is expected to meet in Riyadh next week.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the emergency meeting will focus on Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
The three countries’ foreign ministers discussed regional security on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last month.
Dar said the three countries’ army chiefs held a special meeting in Riyadh on September 25.
Dar said Iran proposed political engagement with the Houthis, and that at least six unnamed countries were interested in joining the pact.
- Who
- The Strategic Political Defence Committee of Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia; Ishaq Dar announced the planned meeting.
- What
- An emergency committee meeting is planned to discuss Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
- When
- Next week; the report is dated October 2, and Dar said the committee’s next regular meeting was planned for late October or early November.
- Where
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- To discuss Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and regional security.
Political Engagement
Alliance Coordination
How to address the Houthis
Political Engagement
Dar said Iran suggested engaging the Houthis politically rather than using kinetic action.
Alliance Coordination
The Makkah pact committee is set to discuss Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia; the articles do not specify a military response.
- Pact members
- Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia
- Committee
- Strategic Political Defence Committee (SPDC), comprising the countries’ foreign ministers, defence ministers and army chiefs
- Planned meeting
- An emergency meeting in Riyadh next week
- Focus
- Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia
- Earlier foreign-minister discussions
- Held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month
- Army chiefs’ meeting
- Held in Riyadh on September 25
- Potential pact expansion
- Dar said at least six countries were interested; he did not name them
