Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey Review Progress on Makkah Joint Defence Agreement

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with his Saudi and Turkish counterparts in New York to review progress on implementing the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, aimed to establish institutional structures under the agreement and discuss regional security issues.

The three countries have been working together under the framework of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, which considers an attack on any member state as an attack on all parties. The foreign ministers also discussed the latest regional situation and stressed the importance of upholding international law, respecting sovereignty, and non-interference in internal affairs.

The meeting came as Saudi Arabia prepares for an emergency meeting of their chiefs of staff to deliberate on mechanisms for supporting the kingdom under the agreement. The Houthis have launched strikes on the Saudi-backed government in Yemen and repeatedly fired into Saudi Arabia, disrupting oil flows from the world's largest energy exporter.