Pakistan confirms troop deployment to Saudi Arabia under Makkah defence pact

Pakistan's military spokesman, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, confirmed on October 8, 2026, that Pakistani forces are present in Saudi Arabia under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, operating across multiple capabilities and domains, according to Arab News. He said some of this military presence predates the pact, noting that Pakistani personnel have supported Saudi Arabia for decades.

What the Makkah pact covers

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed in Mecca on August 7, 2026, by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. Under the pact, the three countries agreed that an armed attack on any one member would be treated as an attack on all of them, a collective-security clause that regional media have compared to NATO's Article 5, as reported by The National and Al Jazeera.

The pact remained largely dormant until October 5, 2026, when defence and foreign ministers of the three countries held an emergency meeting of the alliance's Strategic-Political and Defence Committee in Riyadh. According to Dawn.com, the committee agreed to move immediately toward practical implementation of the collective defence commitments and to provide agreed military forces and capabilities for rapid deployment inside the kingdom. Pakistan's delegation included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

Retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood of Pakistan was named the alliance's first secretary general for a three-year term, Dawn.com reported. Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman said the alliance reaffirmed solidarity and unity among the three countries in confronting what he described as attacks on the Kingdom, according to Al Jazeera.

Roles on the ground

Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistani and Turkish forces are operating in a supportive role, with Pakistan contributing to reconnaissance operations while Saudi troops carry out active combat missions, Dawn.com reported. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkiye is assessing how it can help Saudi Arabia, including possible air-defence contributions, according to Arab News. The National reported that Turkiye's own forces require parliamentary ratification before a formal troop deployment, even though its constitution permits some defence cooperation beforehand.

The Makkah pact sits alongside a separate bilateral Pakistan-Saudi Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed in Riyadh on September 17, 2025, during a visit by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir. Under that earlier bilateral deal, Pakistan deployed roughly 8,000 troops, a fighter jet squadron and an air defence system to Saudi Arabia, according to Arab News.

Houthi attacks behind the move

The activation of the pact followed a surge in attacks by Yemen's Houthi movement on Saudi territory. In the days before October 8, 2026, the Houthis struck Abha International Airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Euronews reported that a drone strike on King Khalid airport killed one person, while the separate Abha strike killed two civilians.

On October 8, 2026, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group fired a second ballistic missile at King Khalid airport that hit its target, according to Euronews. The Saudi-led coalition spokesman, Major General Turki al-Malki, said missiles aimed at Riyadh were intercepted and said such attacks on civilian targets would not go unpunished. Saree also warned international airlines about operating in Saudi airspace, while stating the group would continue to exempt the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

The National and Al Jazeera reported that the attacks coincided with a Saudi-backed ground offensive by Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council to recapture Red Sea territory, including areas near the Bab al-Mandeb strait, that the Houthis had seized in recent weeks.

What remains unclear

Exact current troop numbers tied specifically to the Makkah pact's October activation have not been publicly disclosed; the 8,000-troop figure cited by Arab News refers to the earlier bilateral agreement. The precise scope of Turkish forces on the ground, pending parliamentary approval, and the specific Pakistani units engaged in reconnaissance versus other roles have not been detailed by officials.