Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Pakistan and Turkey Join Saudi Defence Pact Amid Attacks
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have a defence agreement that says they will support one another if attacked.
On October 5, their officials met in Riyadh and agreed to put the agreement into action.
The countries said forces and other military support should be sent to Saudi Arabia quickly, but they did not share a timetable.
Pakistan’s defence minister said Pakistani and Turkish forces were helping in supportive roles, while Saudi troops were doing the fighting.
The countries condemned attacks on Saudi cities and holy sites.
Saudi Arabia blamed the Houthis for attacks, while the Houthis also made claims about attacks by Saudi forces in Yemen.
The different claims were not independently resolved in the reports.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey agreed to implement collective-defence measures under their Makkah Alliance pact at an emergency meeting in Riyadh on October 5, 2026.
The pact, signed on August 7, says an armed attack on one member is to be treated as an attack on all.
The joint statement called for agreed forces and capabilities to be provided and rapidly deployed in Saudi Arabia, but gave no schedule or specific deployment details.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistani and Turkish forces were playing supportive roles, including reconnaissance, while Saudi forces handled combat operations.
The countries condemned attacks on Saudi Arabia and holy sites; Saudi Arabia separately blamed the Houthis for continued attacks, while Houthi claims about strikes and Saudi attacks on Yemen were reported.
- Who
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, through their Strategic Political and Defence Committee.
- What
- They agreed to implement collective-defence measures and arrange for agreed forces and capabilities to be deployed in Saudi Arabia.
- When
- The emergency committee meeting took place on October 5, 2026.
- Where
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The countries cited security threats and attacks affecting Saudi Arabia and the region.
Saudi and alliance statements
Houthi statements
Responsibility for attacks and justification
Saudi and alliance statements
Saudi Arabia condemned what it described as continued Houthi attacks on civilians, civilian and economic facilities, cities and holy sites. The alliance agreed to collective-deterrence measures in response to attacks, without naming an attacker in its joint statement.
Houthi statements
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed the group attacked Saudi sites and said its actions were in response to Saudi attacks on Yemen; those claims were reported but not independently established in the articles.
- Pact members
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey
- Pact name
- Makkah Alliance for Defence, also called the Mecca Defence Alliance
- Pact signed
- August 7, 2026
- Emergency meeting
- October 5, 2026, in Riyadh
- Deployment details
- The statement called for rapid deployment of agreed forces and capabilities but gave no schedule or specific force details.
- Reported roles
- Pakistan’s defence minister described Pakistani and Turkish forces as supportive, including reconnaissance; he said Saudi troops handled combat operations.
- Alliance appointment
- Retired Pakistani Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood was appointed secretary-general for a three-year term.
