The Strategic Political and Defence Committee (SPDC) established under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement will meet in Riyadh on Monday, with senior officials from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye attending, Pakistan’s Foreign Office confirmed.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will represent Pakistan at the meeting.
The Foreign Office said the meeting would review the latest regional developments and ongoing cooperation under the framework of the Makkah agreement.
Senior officials from three countries to attend
According to the Foreign Office, the meeting will also be attended by the foreign and defence ministers and chiefs of general staff from Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry separately confirmed that its Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of the General Staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu would participate.
“The meeting will address recent developments in the region and the stage reached in the Alliance’s institutionalisation efforts,” the Turkish ministry said.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office said Islamabad’s participation reflected its commitment to contributing to regional peace and stability.
Makkah defence alliance
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah trilateral agreement on August 7, establishing a framework for collective security and defence cooperation.
The agreement, later referred to as the Makkah Defence Alliance, provides that an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be regarded as an attack against all three.
The SPDC held its inaugural meeting in Istanbul on August 31, bringing together senior political and defence officials from the three countries.
Monday’s meeting comes as tensions in the region remain high, with Saudi Arabia facing repeated attacks claimed by Yemen’s Houthi movement.
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The Houthis have claimed a series of missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi-linked vessels and infrastructure since announcing a naval blockade on the Kingdom in July.
The group has also targeted airports, energy facilities and other strategic sites in Saudi Arabia, with the Kingdom’s air defence systems intercepting many of the projectiles.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 arrived in Madinah Munawwarah ahead of his meeting in Riyadh today under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
He was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s Consul General in Jeddah, Director General of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs Madinah Branch, and the Saudi Royal Protocol.
The DPM/FM paid respects at Roza-e-Rasool ﷺ and offered prayers for the peace and prosperity of Pakistan, the well-being of its people and the Muslim Ummah, as well as for regional peace and stability. He also visited Jabal Uhud, where he paid homage to the Shuhada-e-Uhud and offered prayers.
The DPM/FM has since proceeded to Riyadh to participate in the meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee (SPDC), where he will join Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, along with counterparts representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Türkiye.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 5, 2026
On October 2, Dar said an emergency meeting under the Makkah agreement would be held to assess the situation in Saudi Arabia, which he said had faced 17 to 18 attacks.
“We are bound to defend Saudi Arabia,” Dar said, adding that the UN Charter allows countries to form such alliances.
Khawaja Asif also condemned the Houthi attacks last week and reiterated Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia in the face of security threats.
“Pakistan would stand by Saudi Arabia against any threat,” he said.
