Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Pakistan Confirms Riyadh Defence Pact Meeting Amid Houthi Escalation
Pakistan says officials from several countries will meet in Riyadh on Monday.
They will talk about recent events in the region and how to work together under a defence agreement.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye are expected to take part.
The meeting comes as fighting and attacks involving the Houthis and Saudi Arabia have increased.
The Houthis said they attacked an Aramco facility near Riyadh with missiles and drones.
Yemen’s Saudi-backed government has also announced a campaign to regain territory held by the Houthis.
Pakistan has not confirmed reports that it will send up to 25,000 troops to Saudi Arabia.
Pakistani officials have said the country is committed to Saudi Arabia’s security.
Pakistan confirmed that a meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee will take place in Riyadh on Monday.
Pakistan’s delegation will be led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, alongside senior military and defence officials.
Saudi Arabia and Turkiye will also send foreign and defence ministers and chiefs of general staff.
The participants will discuss regional developments and cooperation under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement.
The meeting follows escalating Houthi-Saudi attacks and a Saudi-backed Yemeni government announcement of a campaign to retake Houthi-held territory.
- Who
- Delegations from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, including foreign and defence officials and military chiefs.
- What
- A Strategic Political and Defence Committee meeting under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement.
- When
- Monday; the article does not specify the date.
- Where
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- To discuss regional developments and review cooperation under the agreement amid escalating Houthi-Saudi attacks.
- Meeting
- Strategic Political and Defence Committee (SPDC) meeting
- Location
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Participants
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye
- Pakistan delegation lead
- Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
- Agreement
- The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement was signed on August 7
- Collective defence provision
- An attack on one signatory is to be treated as an attack on all member states
- Reported troop deployment
- Reports said Pakistan was preparing to deploy up to 25,000 troops to Saudi Arabia; Islamabad has not officially confirmed this
- Earlier committee meeting
- The first SPDC meeting was held in Istanbul on August 31