Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye will hold talks in Riyadh next week on the possibility of political engagement with Yemen's Houthi group, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar said Friday.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Dar said that the Strategic Political and Defense Committee, established under the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement signed in early August by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan, will convene an emergency meeting in the Saudi capital, where the three countries will discuss the matter.
Dar said that the proposal was put forward by Iran, which hopes to see the issue resolved as soon as possible. He stressed that the proposal has not taken any formal written form and remains only a verbal understanding between him and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Dar also noted that he has briefed the Iranian side on the contents of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement and how Pakistan will implement it.
The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be considered an attack against all three.
On September 25, military leaders of the three countries met in Riyadh and condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Dar also revealed that at least six countries have expressed interest in joining the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement. He did not specify.
He added that no new members will be accepted before the agreement becomes fully operational.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye to hold talks in Riyadh on Houthi political engagement
