ISLAMABAD (MNN); Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that the Strategic Political Defence Committee (SPDC) of the Makkah Defence Alliance will meet in Riyadh next week to review the security situation, particularly the recent Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia.
Speaking at a press briefing on Pakistan’s engagements during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Dar said the emergency meeting had been agreed upon by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
The SPDC, established under the trilateral Makkah Defence Accord, comprises the foreign ministers, defence ministers and army chiefs of the three countries.
Dar said the foreign ministers of the three countries had met in New York amid increased Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, while the three army chiefs subsequently held a meeting in Riyadh on September 25.
He said the full SPDC meeting in Riyadh would assess the current situation and the “ground reality”, with particular attention to developments affecting Saudi Arabia.
Dar described the upcoming session as an emergency meeting and said the committee would hold another meeting according to its regular schedule after the end of October or at the beginning of November.
Pakistan condemns attack on Madina power facility
Commenting on the reported airstrike on a power facility in Madina, which was attributed to the Houthis, Dar said Pakistan had already condemned the attack and described it as unacceptable.
He said he had also discussed the issue with Iran in detail. According to Dar, Tehran denied having any association with either the Houthis or Iraqi militias.
He said Iran had suggested that the Houthis should be engaged politically rather than through kinetic action, while stressing that the suggestion was part of a discussion between the two foreign ministers. Any decision, he added, would be taken by the three SPDC members collectively.
At least six countries interested in joining alliance
Responding to questions about expansion of the Makkah Defence Accord, Dar said at least six countries were interested in joining the arrangement, although he did not name them.
He said expansion would only be considered after the existing agreement became fully operational, a process expected to take at least a year. The accord, he added, remains open to other countries that accept the principles agreed upon by the existing members.
The defence pact, signed on August 7, seeks to strengthen collective deterrence and provides for an attack against one signatory to be treated as an attack against all signatories.
The alliance’s first SPDC meeting was held in Istanbul on August 31, where it was decided that Pakistan would initially head the alliance’s secretariat for three years. Retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood has been appointed its first secretary general.
UN Secretary General Guterres to visit Pakistan
Dar also announced that UN Secretary General António Guterres had accepted Pakistan’s invitation to visit the country, with the visit expected to take place before the end of his tenure on December 31.
He said Guterres had met the Pakistani delegation during the UNGA session and accepted the invitation extended to him.
Dar described the UN chief as a strong supporter of Pakistan and recalled his role in supporting the country during major natural disasters.
He said the visit would take place soon at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and that its programme would be announced by the government.
During a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the UNGA, Guterres and the premier discussed regional and international developments. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the UN chief also appreciated Pakistan’s role in efforts aimed at Middle East peace.
