Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi deterrence against Houthis: What that means Islamabad says its role is defensive, but Riyadh's offensive in Yemen tests how long it can stay out of the fight. Islamabad, Pakistan — For the first time since it was signed in August, the Mecca pact between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye is now in force. At an emergency meeting in Riyadh on Monday, the pact’s top committee agreed to deploy Pakistani and Turkish forces to the kingdom, which is backing an offensive agai
10/06/26 • 25 Mga view
Islamabad says its role is defensive, but Riyadh's offensive in Yemen tests how long it can stay out of the fight.
Islamabad, Pakistan — For the first time since it was signed in August, the Mecca pact between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye is now in force.
At an emergency meeting in Riyadh on Monday, the pact’s top committee agreed to deploy Pakistani and Turkish forces to the kingdom, which is backing an offensive against Yemen’s Houthis.
“The Committee decided to move immediately to the practical implementation of the collective defence commitments and to take the necessary measures to provide the agreed military forces and capabilities and ensure their rapid deployment in the Kingdom, in accordance with the approved arrangements and the national legislation of the Parties,” said a joint statement shared by Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
The statement did not specify the size or role of the forces.
Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Major-General Turki al-Malki said 100 fighter jets were supporting a counteroffensive by the internationally recognised Yemeni government to retake territory seized by the Houthis last month.
Hours after the meeting, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistani forces were already playing a part.
“The forces of Turkiye and Pakistan are playing a supporting role. We are definitely involved in reconnaissance and such things, but the combat is practically being conducted by Saudi Arabia’s own forces, and they are the ones retaking those areas,” Asif told Geo News, speaking from Riyadh on Monday night.
That leaves Pakistan in a defensive role alongside a Saudi offensive. Analysts told Al Jazeera that it raises a question Islamabad has yet to answer publicly: How long can it stay out of the actual fighting?
Pakistan already had a military presence in Saudi Arabia. It has trained Saudi military personnel since 1967, with a 1982 agreement formalising the deputation of troops to the kingdom.
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