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Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman met with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir in Riyadh on September 26, 2026, to discuss the attacks on Makkah as well as civilian and economic facilities across the Kingdom. The two officials commended the outcomes of a recent gathering of chiefs of staff from states participating in the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. They stressed the need to sustain collaborative measures to counter such incidents within the framework of that pact. The Saudi Press Agency reported that the session included participation by Minister of State, Cabinet Member and National Security Adviser Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, Chief of the General Staff Gen. Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili and Adviser to the Minister of Defense for Intelligence Affairs Hisham bin Abdulaziz bin Saif, together with several senior Pakistani officers.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye last month establishes that an armed attack on any one party constitutes an attack on all three, according to coverage by Arab News. Senior military officials from the three nations convened in the Saudi capital the previous day to review ways of strengthening intelligence sharing, operational coordination and defensive integration. The Saudi Ministry of Defense has described the pact as a mechanism to bolster collective security across the region. Such arrangements build upon longstanding defense ties between Riyadh and Islamabad that have included joint exercises and capacity building programs for decades.
Houthi attacks against Saudi targets have intensified since July 2026, terminating a truce observed since April 2022, regional security reports indicate. Saudi air defenses have intercepted multiple drones and ballistic missiles directed at population centers including Riyadh and Khamis Mushait in recent weeks, the Kingdom’s authorities have stated. Several of the assaults have been aimed near the holy city of Makkah, drawing widespread condemnation from Saudi partners. Pakistan has previously voiced support for Saudi sovereignty at the United Nations and in bilateral statements, reaffirming its commitment to the Kingdom’s stability.
Prince Khalid bin Salman wrote on social media after the discussions that the two sides welcomed the results of the chiefs of staff meeting held under the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement. He added that they had examined the heinous attacks targeting the holy city of Makkah and the Kingdom’s civilian and economic infrastructure. The defense minister affirmed their continued joint efforts to confront these attacks in accordance with the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement. The Saudi Press Agency distributed the details of the gathering without additional elaboration on specific operational decisions.
The latest engagement signals the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement moving toward practical implementation with emphasis on coordinated responses to emerging threats, Dawn newspaper reported from Islamabad. Field Marshal Asim Munir’s visit follows a series of high-level exchanges that have reinforced the strategic partnership between the two countries. Officials have underscored the importance of deterrence in addressing risks posed by Iran-aligned militias operating from Yemen. Broader diplomatic efforts continue alongside these military consultations to promote de-escalation across the Arabian Peninsula.
Attendance at the Riyadh meeting reflected the breadth of defense and security cooperation between the two nations, the Saudi Press Agency noted in its dispatch. Discussions occurred amid ongoing regional volatility that has included disruptions to maritime traffic in the Red Sea. Both sides have consistently highlighted their shared interest in preserving stability and countering extremism throughout the area. The encounter forms part of regular high-level contacts maintained between Saudi and Pakistani defense establishments.
