Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia Order Rapid Force Deployment Under Makkah Pact
Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia Order Rapid Force Deployment Under Makkah Pact
Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia have ordered the rapid deployment of agreed military forces in the kingdom, directing the immediate implementation of the collective defence commitments under the Makkah pact after an emergency meeting in Riyadh on Monday.
The decision came from the Strategic-Political and Defence Committee of the Makkah Alliance for Defence, which met in the Saudi capital on October 5 to review what it called the latest security developments and threats facing the kingdom. The committee said the necessary measures should be taken to provide the agreed forces and capabilities and ensure their rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia in line with approved arrangements and the national laws of the three member states.
Makkah pact committee names first secretary-general
In a step towards giving the alliance a permanent institutional shape, the committee appointed Pakistan’s Lieutenant General (retd) Nauman Mahmood as its first secretary-general for a three-year term, according to the Foreign Office.
The committee reviewed the outcome of political and military consultations held ahead of the emergency session and approved the recommendations placed before it. It reaffirmed that the Makkah Alliance for Defence represented a collective commitment to mutual defence and a unified response to security threats.
Condemnation of attacks on holy cities
The committee strongly condemned what it described as the attempted targeting of Makkah and Madinah, along with continuing attacks on Saudi cities and civilian and economic facilities. Pakistan and Turkiye reaffirmed their unequivocal rejection of any attack or threat against Saudi Arabia’s security and territorial integrity, and praised the vigilance and preparedness of the Saudi armed forces.
The meeting took place against a backdrop of repeated Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi targets, including a reported strike on an electricity facility serving the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. The Houthis have denied responsibility for some of the incidents.
What the Makkah pact commits the three countries to
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed on August 7 by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Its central clause treats an armed attack on any one of the three states as an attack on all three.
The alliance held its first committee meeting in Istanbul on August 31, where the three sides agreed to deepen institutional coordination. A permanent secretariat is being established in Saudi Arabia, initially headed by a Pakistani secretary-general for three years.
Turkish officials have stressed that the pact does not trigger automatic troop deployments. Any use of force would follow each country’s own constitutional and national decision-making processes, with the state under attack first requesting assistance and specifying its needs.
What happens next
With the committee’s direction now in place, the three countries are expected to move from political agreement to practical military coordination, including staffing the secretariat and designating forces for rapid deployment. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said last week that at least six other countries had expressed interest in joining the alliance, though he did not name them.
Pakistan has paired its defence commitment with calls for restraint and dialogue. Dar said the Riyadh meeting would also consider Iran’s suggestion of political engagement with the Houthis, an idea raised as regional tensions continue to rise.
FAQ
What did the Makkah pact committee decide in Riyadh?
It directed the immediate implementation of the alliance’s collective defence commitments, including the rapid deployment of agreed military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia, and appointed Lt Gen (retd) Nauman Mahmood as the first secretary-general for three years.
Which countries are part of the Makkah defence pact?
Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7, 2026. Under the pact, an armed attack on any one member is regarded as an attack on all three.
Does the pact mean automatic troop deployments?
No. Turkish officials have clarified that any deployment follows each country’s own national decision-making, and the state under attack must first request assistance and spell out its needs.
