Turkey and Pakistan to send troops to Saudi Arabia under defence pact

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   Turkey and Pakistan to Send Troops to Saudi Arabia

   Turkey and Pakistan are deploying military forces to Saudi Arabia under the mutual defense pact signed in August. Following an emergency session of the Mecca pact committee in Riyadh, the three nations agreed to a rapid deployment of forces to protect Saudi infrastructure against Houthi attacks. Turkey plans to send additional personnel, pilots, and air defense systems. Meanwhile, Pakistan is dispatching troops to aid Saudi-backed forces for the first time. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated the pact is strictly for collective defense rather than offensive operations.

   Why it matters

   The deployment unites NATO's second-largest army, Pakistan as the Islamic world's nuclear state, and Saudi Arabia as the top Gulf power. This follows years of regional conflict and attacks by Iran-backed Houthis. Pakistan's decision to deploy forces bypasses parliament, drawing scrutiny given a 2015 parliamentary vote to stay out of the Yemen intervention.

   What is confirmed

   • Turkey and Pakistan will send forces to Saudi Arabia under a new mutual defense pact.
   • The Strategic Political and Defense Committee of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement met in an emergency session in Riyadh on October 5.
   • Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that the Makkah defense pact is for collective defense and does not authorize offensive military operations.
   • Pakistan is deploying troops to aid Saudi-backed forces in Yemen for the first time.
   • Ankara aims to send additional personnel, pilots, and aircraft to help protect Saudi infrastructure.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Further Turkish troop deployments are subject to parliamentary approval.
   • Opposition leaders in Turkey warn the pact could pull the country into a military role in Yemen.
   • Pakistan's deployment was executed without parliamentary involvement due to military control under Field Marshal Asim Munir.

   What to watch next

   • Turkish parliamentary votes regarding further troop deployments
   • The scale and timeline of Pakistani and Turkish force arrivals in Saudi Arabia
   • Subsequent Houthi military actions in response to the pact activation
   Sources used for this update (15)

   1. reuters.com — Turkey says Mecca pact committee to meet in Riyadh on October 5
   2. NDTV — For First Time, Pakistan To Deploy Troops To Aide Saudi-Backed Yemen Forces
   3. Financial Times — Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey trigger mutual defence pact over Houthis
   4. Al Jazeera — Pakistan, Turkiye join Saudi deterrence against Houthis: What that means
   5. Bloomberg.com — Pakistan Says Mecca Pact Is Supporting Saudi Arabia With Houthis
   6. Euronews.com — Turkey and Pakistan to send troops to Saudi Arabia under defence pact
   7. CGTN Radio — Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia activate mutual defense pact
   8. thehindu.com — Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye agree on rapid deployment of forces in the Kingdom
   9. www.middleeasteye.net — Turkey to deploy troops and air defence systems to Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks
   10. www.indiatoday.in — Mecca Pact News: Can Pakistan help Saudi Arabia defeat Iran-backed Houthis in an all-out war? - India Tod....
   11. www.euronews.com — Turkey and Pakistan to send troops to Saudi Arabia under defence pact | Euronews
   12. www.indiatoday.in — Criminal to send forces to Saudi: Turkey's Opposition raises alarm over Mecca Pact - India Today
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