Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Dar said the three ministers discussed regional and global security developments and reviewed progress towards establishing the institutional structures of the Makkah defence agreement.
The agreement, signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in August, provides a framework for collective defence and cooperation. The three countries agreed in August to establish a secretariat, committees and working groups to strengthen the pact’s institutional structure.
The meeting comes as Houthi forces have intensified attacks against Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities said they intercepted six ballistic missiles launched by the group, while the Houthis claimed to have carried out missile and drone attacks against Saudi targets.
Saudi Arabia has issued emergency alerts for several areas, including Makkah, Jeddah and Yanbu. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said the three countries condemned attacks targeting Makkah and other civilian sites and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s right to defend itself.
The ministers also discussed arrangements for an urgent meeting of the three countries’ military chiefs to consider ways of supporting Saudi Arabia under the defence agreement.
The pact stipulates that an armed attack against one of its members is to be treated as an attack against all three, according to the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
The three sides also reviewed preparations for the agreement’s General Secretariat, committees and working groups and discussed steps towards beginning their operations.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye reaffirmed their commitment to regional peace and stability, while supporting efforts aimed at de-escalation and diplomatic solutions to ongoing conflicts.
The latest meeting follows an earlier ministerial-level meeting in Istanbul on August 31, where the three countries agreed to further institutionalise cooperation under the Makkah agreement and strengthen collective deterrence and defence capabilities.
Saudi grand mufti calls for unity
Meanwhile, Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan called on Saudi and allied forces to remain united while responding to Houthi attacks.
He urged military personnel to demonstrate patience and perseverance while carrying out their duties and emphasised their responsibility to protect Saudi Arabia and its people.
The developments come as the three countries continue to build the institutional framework of their new defence arrangement while tensions in the region remain high.
