Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia are holding a high-level meeting in Riyadh on Monday under their newly established Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, as fighting in Yemen intensifies and concerns grow over attacks on Saudi territory.

The meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee (SPDC) brings together the three countries' foreign and defence ministers and military chiefs to discuss regional developments and review cooperation under the agreement.

Pakistan's delegation includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Chief of Defence Forces and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan's Foreign Office said.

Türkiye is represented by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and Chief of the General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry. Saudi Arabia is also represented by its foreign and defence ministers and military leadership.

The talks come as Yemen's internationally recognised government, backed by Saudi Arabia, launched a major military campaign on Sunday to recapture territory seized by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement. The escalation follows Houthi advances along parts of Yemen's Red Sea coast and around the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.

The Houthis have also launched attacks against Saudi targets, including missile and drone strikes that Riyadh has linked to the escalating conflict in Yemen. Saudi Arabia has responded with airstrikes against Houthi positions.

Pakistan's Foreign Office said the Riyadh meeting would discuss the "latest developments in the region" and review ongoing cooperation under the Makkah Agreement. Türkiye said the talks would also assess progress in institutionalising the alliance.

The meeting follows an earlier gathering of the three countries' military chiefs in Riyadh on Sept. 25, when they discussed threats to Saudi Arabia and ways to improve intelligence sharing, military coordination and defence cooperation.

Pakistan has also said that Iran proposed political engagement with the Houthis as an alternative to further military escalation. Dar said the proposal would be discussed at the Riyadh meeting, although Pakistan described it as a goodwill suggestion rather than a formal Iranian initiative.

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia on Aug. 7. The pact establishes a framework for collective deterrence and stipulates that an armed attack against one member would be treated as an attack against all three.

The agreement's first SPDC meeting was held in Istanbul on Aug. 31. The three countries agreed at the time to develop mechanisms to strengthen the credibility and effectiveness of their collective defence commitments. Pakistan was selected to initially head the alliance's secretariat for three years.

The new trilateral security framework comes as the Middle East faces a series of interconnected conflicts and growing threats to energy infrastructure and maritime routes. The Bab al-Mandab Strait, linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, is a critical route for global shipping.

For Pakistan, the meeting also highlights its balancing role in the region. Islamabad has reaffirmed its commitment to Saudi Arabia's security while maintaining diplomatic channels with Iran and supporting efforts to resolve regional conflicts through dialogue.

Pakistan's participation "signifies Pakistan's resolve to continue contributing towards regional peace and stability", its Foreign Office said.

The outcome of Monday's talks could provide an indication of how quickly the three countries intend to translate the Makkah Agreement from a political commitment into a more operational regional security framework, particularly as fighting in Yemen threatens to widen the region's already fragile security environment. (ILKHA)