RIYADH: Military chiefs from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye held urgent talks in Riyadh on Friday as the three countries moved to strengthen cooperation under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
Pakistan Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Saudi Chief of General Staff Gen Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili and Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu attended the meeting.
The meeting came amid renewed missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement, commonly known as the Houthis, against Saudi Arabia.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the three sides discussed enhanced intelligence sharing, military coordination and the integration of military capabilities.
The participants also expressed their determination to immediately translate commitments under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement into effective military cooperation.
Focus on Saudi Arabia’s Defence
The military chiefs reviewed the security situation and threats facing Saudi Arabia.
They condemned attacks targeting Makkah and Saudi civilian and economic infrastructure. They also praised the Saudi armed forces for their role in protecting the kingdom.
The three countries reaffirmed their commitment to collective defence and to protecting Saudi Arabia’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The statements issued after the meeting did not announce any Pakistani or Turkish participation in offensive operations against Houthi positions in Yemen.
Instead, the focus remained on intelligence cooperation, military coordination, capability integration and collective defence.
Munir Meets Saudi Defence Minister
Following the trilateral meeting, Field Marshal Munir held a separate meeting with Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman.
According to the Saudi minister, the two sides discussed attacks targeting Makkah as well as Saudi civilian and economic facilities.
They also reaffirmed continued joint efforts to confront the attacks under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
The bilateral meeting added to the military engagement between Islamabad and Riyadh as the three-country defence framework develops.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on August 7. The first meeting of its Strategic Political and Defence Committee was held in Istanbul on August 31.
The three countries subsequently agreed to establish a permanent secretariat in Riyadh, with Pakistan providing the secretary general for its first three-year term. Retired Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood has since been appointed to the position.
No Decision Announced on Yemen Operations
The latest military meetings do not indicate that Pakistan or Turkiye have decided to participate in offensive operations in Yemen.
Specific military assistance or deployments would depend on Saudi requirements and further decisions by the three countries.
Turkiye has previously indicated its readiness to address Saudi military requirements, particularly technical needs.
The Riyadh meeting nevertheless marks a further step in implementing the defence pact, with the three militaries now discussing practical mechanisms for intelligence sharing, coordination and the integration of capabilities.
The development comes as Saudi Arabia faces continuing attacks from Yemen and heightened regional security tensions. The three countries have so far publicly framed their cooperation around Saudi Arabia’s defence and collective deterrence rather than announcing a wider military intervention in Yemen.
