ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership will visit Riyadh on Monday to participate in a key trilateral security meeting under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, the Foreign Office said.
The high-level Pakistani delegation includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
They will participate in a meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee (SPDC), established under the framework of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
The meeting will bring together foreign ministers, defence ministers and senior military leadership from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
Participants are expected to review recent regional developments and discuss progress in trilateral political, security and defence cooperation under the Makkah Agreement.
Regional Situation in Focus
The meeting comes amid heightened regional tensions, including developments in Yemen. A day earlier, the leader of Yemen’s Saudi-backed government announced the beginning of a major military operation against the Houthis aimed at taking territory under their control.
Dar said on Friday that Iran had proposed political engagement with Yemen’s Houthis following attacks by the group, adding that the suggestion would be among the issues discussed by the Makkah defence pact committee in Riyadh.
According to the Foreign Office, Pakistan’s participation underscores Islamabad’s commitment to playing an active role in promoting regional peace and stability.
Türkiye has also confirmed its participation in the meeting.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of the General Staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu would attend the SPDC session alongside their Pakistani and Saudi counterparts.
“The meeting will address recent developments in the region and the stage reached in the Alliance’s institutionalization efforts,” the Turkish statement said.
The Riyadh talks are expected to focus on evolving regional security challenges as well as further institutionalisation of cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye under the trilateral framework.
