Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have agreed to move towards implementing collective defence commitments by deploying military forces in Saudi Arabia. The three nations formalised this strategic relationship through the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA) on 7 August 2026.
The Strategic-Political and Defence Committee of the Makkah Alliance for Defence met in Riyadh on 5 October 2026 to discuss these arrangements. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with the newly arrived Saudi ambassador, Dr Rajeh Tami Albugamy, in Islamabad to discuss bilateral ties.
Relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have seen remarkable progress recently, with the two countries standing shoulder to shoulder to safeguard sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. Defence Minister Asif reiterated the resolve to implement the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on 27 September.
Asif stated, "If there wasn't an agreement, if Saudi Arabia had been attacked, especially if the sacred cities of Makkah and Madinah were attacked, then we are bound by an eternal agreement; that is, we will protect the House of God and Madinah." A Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was also signed in September 2025.
Under these arrangements, any aggression against either Pakistan or Saudi Arabia is considered an aggression against both nations. Senior military leadership from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye condemned attacks targeting Makkah on 25 September.
Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman reaffirmed joint efforts to confront attacks targeting Makkah and civilian facilities. The Houthis launched 20 attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh this month, killing 17 people and wounding 333 others, according to coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki.
Saudi authorities reported that attacks on 6 and 7 October killed three people and injured 36 others, including a Pakistani national. A strike on Riyadh airport on 11 October killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300.
An attack on 12 October killed a Pakistani resident and injured 11 others. In September 2019, the Houthis claimed responsibility for drone attacks on Saudi Aramco’s Abqaiq processing facility and Khurais oil field.
