Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have agreed to rapidly deploy military forces and capabilities to the kingdom under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement.
The three countries announced the decision in a joint statement on Monday following an emergency meeting in Riyadh convened to address security developments and threats facing Saudi Arabia.
The countries agreed to immediately implement the joint defence pact and take necessary measures to provide and rapidly deploy the agreed military forces and capabilities in the kingdom.
The statement did not specify the number of troops or amount of military equipment to be deployed.
Pakistani forces are already stationed in Saudi Arabia under a long-standing military partnership.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in August. The pact contains a mutual defence clause similar to NATO’s, under which an attack on one party is considered an attack on all.
Saudi Arabia has recently faced pressure from advances by Yemen’s Houthi militia and attacks on its key East-West oil pipeline, prompting it to seek support from its allies.
Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who attended the meeting, said Saudi Arabia, which is fighting alongside the Yemeni government against the Houthis, had recently made territorial gains in Yemen.
Asked about a possible role for Pakistan and Turkey, Asif said both countries were present in the operational area but only Saudi forces were involved in combat.
He said Turkey and Pakistan currently had a supportive role, with Pakistan involved in reconnaissance activities.
