Pak, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye agree to deploy forces in Gulf country amid Houthi attacks

Pakistan and Turkiye have agreed to send their military to Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan and Turkiye have agreed to send their military to Saudi Arabia as part of a recently signed defence agreement involving the three countries.The move follows attacks in the Gulf kingdom by Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen, amid growing regional security concerns.According to the joint statement, representatives from Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia held an emergency meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee (SPDC) of the Makkah Alliance for Defence in Riyadh on Monday.The Mecca defence agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye in August provides for collective deterrence, with an armed attack on any one of the three countries to be treated as an attack on all of them.The SPDC on Monday reviewed the outcomes of the political and military consultations preceding the meeting and approved the recommendations submitted to it. It affirmed that the Mecca agreement embodies a firm commitment to collective defence and a common approach to confront the threats.The SPDC directed the immediate implementation of the pact’s collective defence provisions, including measures to make available the agreed military forces and capabilities and facilitate their rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia, according to the PTI report.“The three countries affirmed that the security of each party is an integral part of the collective security of the three countries,” the joint statement said.The statement, however, did not specify the number of troops involved or provide a timeline for their deployment. It also did not explicitly identify the Iran-backed Houthi rebels as a threat, although the decision comes amid Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia.Pakistan was represented at the meeting by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.Speaking to Geo News, Asif said Pakistan and Turkiye had a “presence in theatre”, while Saudi troops were the ones involved in combat operations.“Whatever assistance they require is being provided. But right now, the Turkish and Pakistani armies are playing a supportive role,” he said, adding that Pakistan was also involved in reconnaissance activities.The three countries strongly condemned attempts to target Makkah and Madinah, along with continued attacks on Saudi cities and civilian and economic infrastructure.Pakistan and Turkiye also praised the Saudi Armed Forces for maintaining vigilance and readiness in dealing with threats and attacks against the kingdom, according to the statement.The meeting also marked an institutional step for the alliance, with the committee appointing retired Pakistani General Nauman Mahmood as its first secretary-general for a three-year term.The SPDC talks took place as the Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen’s government launched a major military operation on Sunday aimed at retaking areas controlled by the Houthis.The three nations’ chiefs of general staff and defense forces convened in Riyadh last month to discuss Saudi Arabia’s security position and challenges.Additionally, the three nations’ foreign ministers met last month on the fringes of the UN General Assembly in New York to talk about the kingdom’s difficulties.Pakistan’s participation demonstrated its “resolve to continue contributing toward regional peace and stability,” according to a statement released by the Foreign office on Monday.