Turkey and Pakistan are set to rapidly deploy troops to ensure Saudi Arabia's security amidst escalating attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen. The three nations reached this decision as part of a new mutual defense alliance.

In a joint statement issued on Monday (October 5), Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia announced that they had signed the "Mecca Joint Defense Pact" last August. Under this agreement, if any one of the three nations comes under attack, the other two are committed to providing assistance.

This alliance brings together Turkey—possessing the second-largest military force in NATO—Pakistan, the only nuclear-armed nation in the Muslim world, and Saudi Arabia, a major power in the Gulf region.

Representatives from the three countries held an emergency meeting in Riyadh on Monday. Discussions focused on recent attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, with particular emphasis on threats directed at the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. However, the statement did not explicitly name the Iran-backed Houthis.

In the joint statement, the three nations "unequivocally" condemned any attacks or threats against Saudi Arabia's security and territorial integrity.

They further announced that swift measures would be taken to fulfill the commitments of the joint defense pact. Necessary steps will be implemented to ensure the rapid deployment and arrival of required military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia.

However, the statement did not specify the exact nature of the duties the Turkish and Pakistani troops would perform upon their arrival in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has faced a series of Houthi attacks since the intensification of the civil war in Yemen. Various cities, oil infrastructure, and ships within the country have been targeted in these assaults.

Last September, the Houthis launched a new offensive, seizing vast territories from Yemen's Saudi-backed government. In response, the Yemeni government launched a counter-offensive on Monday with Saudi support, aiming to retake areas that had long been under Houthi control.

Source: NDTV