# Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey Convene Their Makkah Defence Pact as Yemen's Government Opens an Offensive Against the Houthis

Pakistan sent its foreign minister, army chief and defence minister to the Riyadh meeting, which focuses on Houthi strikes against Saudi infrastructure, including a power facility in Madinah.

- Published: 2026-10-05T05:06:07.059Z
- Canonical: https://polylog.news/2026-10-05/saudi-arabia-pakistan-and-turkey-convene-their-makkah-defenc
- Publisher: Polylog (Global desk)
- Section: geopolitics
- Sources: [Dawn](https://www.dawn.com/news/2034893/makkah-defence-pact-meeting-to-be-held-today-in-riyadh-confirms-fo), [Investing.com Commodities](https://www.investing.com/news/commodities-news/head-of-yemens-presidential-council-announces-military-operations-to-retake-territory-4930932), [The Express Tribune](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2632612/meeting-of-makkah-accord-committee-in-saudi-to-focus-on-houthi-attacks-pakistan-says)

Pakistan's Foreign Office [confirmed on X](https://www.dawn.com/news/2034893/makkah-defence-pact-meeting-to-be-held-today-in-riyadh-confirms-fo) that members of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement will meet in Riyadh on Monday. Pakistan's delegation includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who is chief of the army and of the defence forces, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. Saudi Arabia and Turkey are sending their foreign ministers, defence ministers and chiefs of general staff. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey [formalized the agreement on August 7](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2632612/meeting-of-makkah-accord-committee-in-saudi-to-focus-on-houthi-attacks-pakistan-says) as a framework for collective deterrence.

Pakistani officials say the agenda centers on Saudi Arabia's security situation. The Express Tribune reported that the meeting will assess Houthi attacks on civilian and economic infrastructure, including [a recent strike on a power facility in Madinah](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2632612/meeting-of-makkah-accord-committee-in-saudi-to-focus-on-houthi-attacks-pakistan-says). The meeting follows an emergency session of the pact's chiefs [held last week](https://www.dawn.com/news/2032697).

Yemen's internationally recognized government acted the day before the meeting. Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, announced [military operations to retake all territory held by the Houthis](https://www.investing.com/news/commodities-news/head-of-yemens-presidential-council-announces-military-operations-to-retake-territory-4930932). Al Arabiya reported that al-Alimi said Yemen had moved ["from the stage of preparation to the stage of action"](https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2026/10/04/yemen-announces-military-operations-against-iranbacked-houthis) and that the operations are not directed at civilians in Sanaa, Hodeidah or Saada. CNN reported that [the Saudi-led coalition pledged support](https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/04/middleeast/yemen-offensive-houthis-intl). France 24 reported that the Houthis had [cut a supply route to the besieged, government-held city of Taiz](https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20261004-yemen-leader-announces-counter-offensive-as-houthis-cut-off-supply-route-besieged-city-taiz) at the time of the announcement.

Each side describes the fighting differently. Al-Alimi accuses the Houthis of escalating, attacking neighboring countries and threatening shipping lanes. The Houthis present their strikes on Saudi territory as part of the wider war against the United States and its partners. Monday's claims of attacks on Aramco sites in Riyadh and Khurais are the latest example.

## What this means

Riyadh is organizing its defense through a regional pact that includes Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state with a large army, and Turkey, a NATO member with a large standing military. Riyadh is also backing a Yemeni ground offensive, rather than relying only on American protection. Pakistan offers manpower and deterrent weight and gets Saudi financing. Turkey gains defense-industry customers and influence in the Gulf. Saudi assets, Red Sea shipping and Pakistani sovereign credit are all exposed through this arrangement. The consensus treats the pact as symbolic. The September 2025 Saudi-Pakistan mutual defense agreement was followed within a year by a three-country structure that now holds emergency sessions, which suggests real operational planning. The likelier outcome over the coming months is visible pact support for the Yemeni offensive, such as air defense, advisers or logistics, without Pakistani or Turkish ground troops in Yemen. A formal Pakistani troop deployment into Yemen would prove this wrong and would make Pakistan a party to the war. Expect Houthi strikes on Saudi energy sites to continue while the offensive lasts, which keeps oil risk premiums from falling far.

## What to watch

- The communiqué from Monday's Riyadh meeting. Wording on joint air defense or deployments would show how far the pact goes beyond consultation.
- Whether government forces reopen the Taiz supply route. The result will show whether al-Alimi's offensive can gain ground or whether it is mainly an announcement.
- Houthi strikes on Red Sea shipping in the coming days. A rise would extend the Yemen fight into global freight costs.