Mecca Pact Structure Finalised: Saudi to Spearhead Houthi Operations, Pakistan-Turkey to Assist

Mecca Pact Formalised: Saudi Leads Yemen Combat as Pakistan, Turkey Provide Support

The framework of the Mecca Pact involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey has been formally approved, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said, while making clear that Riyadh remains solely at the forefront of the current combat against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

Asif said the latest meeting was convened to finalise the pact’s organisational arrangements, including ratification of its secretary-general, rather than to plan or coordinate military operations in Yemen.

“The structure of Mecca Pact has been formalised, the Secretary-General appointed for Makkah Pact has been ratified, and all related matters have been fully ratified,” he said.

Saudi Forces Fighting Houthis

Speaking about the situation in Yemen, Asif confirmed that Saudi forces are conducting the active combat operations against the Houthis.

“As for the Houthi situation, Saudi Arabia has engaged in combat against the Houthis,” the Pakistani minister said.

According to Asif, the Houthis have shifted to a defensive position after capturing some areas of Yemen during the past month. The Yemeni government is now seeking to regain control of those territories.

“The Houthis have adopted a defensive stance, and over the past month, they captured certain areas in Yemen which the government now wants to recapture,” he said.

Pakistan, Turkey Provide Assistance

Asif said Pakistani and Turkish forces have a presence in Saudi Arabia but are not currently conducting frontline combat against the Houthis.

“Pakistan and Turkey both countries have their presence there. However, Saudi Arabia is fighting its own battles against the Houthis where combat is active, while we are present and providing whatever type of assistance and support is needed,” he said.

He described the role of the two countries’ armed forces as supportive.

“We are currently at a position where the armed forces of Turkey and Pakistan are playing a supportive role,” Asif added.

Reconstruction Part of Cooperation

The minister stressed that the Mecca Pact should not be viewed solely through the lens of the Yemen conflict. Its broader purpose is to strengthen defence and security cooperation among Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey.

He also said reconstruction-related work would form part of the countries’ engagement.

“Definitely, reconstruction and all those things are areas where we are involved, but combat is practically being carried out by Saudi Arabia’s own forces, and they are the ones reclaiming those areas,” Asif said.

The clarification separates the pact’s newly formalised institutional framework from the ongoing fighting in Yemen, where Saudi forces, according to Asif, remain responsible for direct combat operations.