The first meeting of the Strategic, Political and Defence Committee established under the Mecca Joint Defence Pact will be held in Istanbul on Monday.

According to Turkish foreign ministry sources, the meeting is expected to be attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defence Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of General Staff Gen. Selcuk Bayraktaroglu.

Pakistan is expected to be represented by Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, while Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman and Chief of General Staff Gen. Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili are also due to attend.

The committee, comprising the foreign and defence ministers and chiefs of general staff of Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, was envisaged to provide strategic direction for activities to be carried out under the Mecca Joint Defence Pact.

The meeting is expected to address international security issues, as well as efforts to develop defence capabilities and promote greater interoperability among the armed forces of the three countries.

Participants are also expected to discuss deepening defence industry cooperation, including joint production and research and development, as well as strengthening joint counterterrorism efforts.

The meeting is also expected to outline the framework for a secretariat and other relevant mechanisms that will guide work in areas of joint activity determined by the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, as well as establish a roadmap for steps to be taken in the coming period.

The meeting is expected to provide an opportunity to reiterate that the Mecca Joint Defence Pact offers significant opportunities to all countries that seek to strengthen security, peace and stability in the region, approach issues through a cooperative security framework, and prioritise peace and prosperity over conflict.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Joint Defence Pact in Mecca on August 7.

Signed by Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia based on a shared sense of responsibility and regional ownership amid growing instability in their regions and internationally, the pact aims to promote security, peace, stability and prosperity regionally and globally while strengthening joint deterrence.

The pact stipulates that an attack against any one of the parties will be considered an attack against all parties.

Aiming to foster a new culture of cooperation in the region, the pact allows the participation of all actors that respect international law and share a vision of peaceful cooperation.