Khawaja Asif, a senior Pakistani politician, serves as Foreign Minister (current) and has held defence and information portfolios; a long-time PML-N figure shaping security policy amid regional volatility.
Protests linked to the JAAC have escalated as elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir proceed in three phases amid a nationwide crackdown. Officials report clashes and casualties, while JAAC demands political reform and abolition of reserved refugee seats. International observers call for access and transparency as media restrictions intensify.
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement among Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is being translated into an operational framework. Ministers and chiefs of staff are meeting in Istanbul to discuss interoperability, defence cooperation and potential expansion, including a possible role for Egypt. Observers say the pact aims to deter aggression and coordinate military planning in a volatile region.
The Houthi attack on Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran injures 73 people and targets energy facilities. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have formed a joint defense pact, with officials saying it could become operational if aggression against Saudi Arabia escalates. Officials stress the pact is defensive, not an immediate trigger for broader intervention.