The statements issued after the two meetings do not contain anything that would suggest that joint strikes or ground operations against Yemen’s Ansar Allah — commonly referred to as Houthis — are in the offing. However, the two communiques do show that the agreement signed on August 7 in Makkah is shifting gears from political assurances to putting in place the military arrangements required to give practical effect to its collective defence commitment.

That is one notable change since the signing of the agreement. For instance, Islamabad’s position, articulated by the Foreign Office only two weeks ago, was that the Makkah agreement was still being institutionalised and there was no discussion of Pakistani participation in strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. The FO had further characterised the pact as a defensive alliance aimed at protecting regional security through deterrence.

The language contained in the communiques that came out of Riyadh in the early hours of Saturday goes much further.

The statement issued after the meeting of the three military chiefs says they discussed ways of strengthening “intelligence cooperation, military coordination, and capability integration” and expressed their “shared determination to immediately begin translating the commitments contained in the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defence into effective military cooperation”.

The reference to beginning “immediately” and to “effective military cooperation” implies that the three militaries are now looking at how their capabilities can work together, rather than merely reaffirming the principle that an attack on one member would be treated as an attack on all.

This fast-tracking of the implementation of the agreements is taking place against the backdrop of repeated missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia from Yemen, including attacks threatening civilian and economic infrastructure and, most significantly for Riyadh, one that is claimed to be directed towards the vicinity of Makkah city.

While the trilateral statement strongly condemned those attacks and praised the Saudi armed forces for their “vigilance and professionalism” in protecting the kingdom, it is noteworthy for lacking any reference to retaliation, offensive operations or strikes against Ansar Allah positions.

Neither Ansar Allah, Houthis, nor Yemen was referenced directly. Instead, emphasis has been placed on intelligence, coordination and integration of capabilities, which would be the first practical steps towards improving Saudi Arabia’s ability to detect, intercept and deter further attacks.

In practical terms, this announcement would translate into closer intelligence sharing and early warning arrangements, as well as technical personnel, air defence specialists, sensors, electronic warfare capabilities and other assets that could be incorporated into Saudi Arabia’s existing defensive architecture.

On the coordination front, the three countries could, as a follow-up to the meeting of the military chiefs, appoint liaison officers and set up a joint planning cell, which can then work for coordinated responses.

The reference to “capability integration” in the statement is particularly significant. Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia can cooperate while maintaining separate military systems and operations, but integrating capabilities would require a much closer degree of liaison, planning and command and control arrangements.

Despite their longstanding defence cooperation and deep military ties, Pakistan and Turkiye have different military capabilities and equipment inventories from those possessed by Saudi Arabia, and the challenge will be to determine what each can contribute and how those capabilities can be incorporated into the kingdom’s existing defence system.

Turkiye has already indicated its readiness to meet Saudi military requirements, particularly on technical matters. Pakistan, meanwhile, has historical military ties with Saudi Arabia and personnel already serving in the kingdom, providing Islamabad with an established channel through which additional support could potentially be arranged.

The separate meeting between Field Marshal Munir and Prince Khalid bin Salman, the only publicly known meeting the Saudi defence minister had bilaterally with the participants of the Makkah alliance meeting, adds another dimension to the developing military engagement.

According to the Saudi statement, the two sides welcomed the outcome of the trilateral chiefs of staff meeting and discussed attacks targeted towards the vicinity of Makkah and towards civilian and economic facilities, while stressing the need to continue “joint efforts to confront these attacks in accordance with the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defence”.

The bilateral statement, on the face of it, looks more urgent than the trilateral one with assertions “discussed how to respond” and “continuing joint efforts to confront”.

One reason for such categorical assertions is that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia already have a bilateral security relationship, and there is also the 2025 Pakistan-Saudi Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, under which aggression against one is to be regarded as aggression against both, which provides a more mature bilateral channel through which practical measures could be implemented even as the trilateral mechanism is being built.

The composition of the Saudi and Pakistani delegations at the bilateral meeting was also notable. Alongside the Saudi defence minister and chief of general staff were the national security adviser and the adviser to the defence minister for intelligence affairs, while CDF Munir was accompanied by the director general of military operations and his secretary.

This may not reveal what was discussed behind closed doors, but it definitely suggests that the bilateral engagement covered a broader security agenda than a routine follow-up to the chiefs of staff meeting, including the sharing of operational capabilities.

It may be premature to read the Riyadh meetings as preparation for Pakistani or Turkish participation in offensive operations in Yemen, because no such decision has been announced and the phrasing used in the statement instead remained focused on defending Saudi Arabia, its sovereignty and the integrity of its territory. There are, however, obvious signs of the machinery required for any potential future military response being assembled.

The trilateral statement noted that the participants “strongly reaffirmed their commitment to collective defence” and their determination to defend “the security of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its sovereignty, and the integrity of its territories”.

This formulation gives Turkiye and Pakistan room to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s defences without committing themselves immediately to a wider war in Yemen.

As political and diplomatic support, the foreign ministers had already affirmed Saudi Arabia’s right to take measures it considered appropriate to defend its security under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

The military architecture now being discussed could nevertheless have implications beyond defensive measures.

While intelligence sharing, military coordination and capability integration are necessary for intercepting missiles and drones, they are also the building blocks of a more active military response.

If the three militaries establish a common threat picture, stronger intelligence links and mechanisms for coordinating their forces, they would have much of the infrastructure needed if a political decision were later taken to respond to attacks at their source. But for now, that remains a possibility rather than an announced course of action.

Therefore, the immediate path appears more likely to run through intelligence and threat assessment, followed by an identification of Saudi requirements and the integration of additional capabilities, with the possible deployment of personnel or equipment at a later stage.

Where things go from there would depend on the scale and persistence of the attacks and, importantly, on what Riyadh asks its partners to do.

Kohli, the leading century-maker in ODIs with 54 hundreds, retired from T20 Internationals and Test cricket earlier and now represents India only in the 50-over format.

The 37-year-old batter, who has scored 14,941 runs in One-day Internationals, second only to Sachin Tendulkar’s 18,426, won the World Cup on home soil in 2011 before suffering defeat in the 2023 final against Australia.

The 2027 edition, to be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in October to November, will be Kohli’s fifth ODI World Cup.

“For me, it’s the last World Cup I’m going to play for India,” Kohli told broadcaster JioStar on Saturday.

“That is my motivation and, like, you know, to leave everything out there. And of course, the goal is absolutely to win the World Cup, and whatever it takes, I’m absolutely ready.”

Kohli said the demands of a 50-over World Cup made it one of cricket’s toughest challenges, particularly with the tournament set to be played away from home.

“The intensity of a 50-over World Cup is greater than anything. Because now, it’s about 10 games at a Twenty20 level of intensity,” he said.

“But you are playing 2.5 T20 games in one day. And to maintain that intensity for 10 games in a big tournament and World Cup is a big deal. Also now, it’s in foreign conditions. It takes a lot out of you.”

Former captain Rohit Sharma, who also plays only ODIs for India, said he remained fully motivated by the prospect of another World Cup campaign.

“The thought will never cross my mind that the business I had is finished,” Rohit said.

“As long as you’re playing, there is always something to look forward to. And I’m looking forward to the World Cup.”

Kohli and Rohit were both named in India’s squad for the three-match ODI series against West Indies. The opening match will be played in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.

Pakistan, ranked 198th in the world and competing as a guest side, defended in numbers during a cagey opening half hour.

Mohibullah produced a brilliant interception, and Ali Raza made a superb sliding tackle as Nolberto Solano’s men restricted Thailand to long-range efforts, with goalkeeper Yousuf Butt making a fine save on the half-hour mark.

Yousuf was powerless moments later, however, when he saved a header from Jude Soonsup-Bell only for Teerasak to tuck in the rebound and open the scoring in the 31st minute.

Thailand’s second arrived ten minutes later after captain Abdullah Iqbal’s misplaced pass led to a quick burst that ended with Soonsup-Bell slamming home from close range.

Thailand had the ball in the net again three minutes later, but the effort was ruled offside.

Pakistan needed inspiration, and coach Nolberto Solano made three substitutions at halftime, with Shayek Dost, Hayyan Khattak and Alamgir Ghazi coming on for Ali Raza, Ali Agha and Abdullah Shah.

The changes brought more enterprise, with full-backs Mohammad Fazal and Haris Zeb making forward runs, and Pakistan started the second half brightly, keeping possession and threatening without making a decisive move.

Thailand slowly grew back into the half and scored their third on the hour mark. Teerasak played a one-two with Supachai Chaided before his left-footed volley deflected off Haris Zeb and looped over goalkeeper Yousuf into the net.

Abdul Samad Arshad attempted a curler from outside the box but missed the target as Pakistan tried to respond, and veteran Kaleemullah Khan was brought on with 19 minutes to go.

At the 77th minute mark, Thailand missed a golden chance to extend their lead when a grounded cross came in from the left, but the forward completely missed the ball with only Yousuf to beat.

Teerasak completed his brace six minutes from time. Pakistan failed to clear their lines, Peeradol Chamrasamee played the ball forward, and a smart touch from Kakana Khamyok played the forward onside.

Teerasak placed the ball smartly past the goalkeeper to seal the victory.

Solano’s side face the Philippines on September 29 before their final group-stage fixture against Vietnam on October 2.

Pakistan entered the tournament on the back of winning the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament in the Maldives earlier this year, their first title in 74 years.

The dead included eight men, two women and a child, Rescue 1122 said, adding that rescue teams were continuing relief operations at the site and recovering victims from the debris.

Police said the incident occurred at the Aman Mela checkpost, located near Mughal Kot and Darazinda on the DI Khan-Quetta Road, close to the border between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Police further said bomb disposal teams had been dispatched to the site to determine the nature and cause of the explosion.

Several people, including cops and customs personnel and two civilians, were among those injured, according to police.

Meanwhile, Rescue 1122 said 20 injured people had so far been provided initial medical assistance, with 18 of them referred to medical facilities in Darazinda and Mufti Mahmood Hospital in DI Khan for further treatment.

Rescue 1122 District Emergency Officer Muhammad Arif Khan directed the deployment of four additional ambulances with staff from DI Khan to assist in the rescue operation and facilitate the evacuation of the injured.

The checkpost is used by police for security and checking along the DI Khan-Quetta route.

KP has witnessed an increase in terrorist activity in recent months, with law enforcement agencies and security forces being targeted, prompting authorities to intensify counterterrorism operations.

Earlier this month, police said they foiled an attack by terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on a checkpost in DI Khan’s Daraban area. No casualties were reported among the police personnel.

Mainland KP, excluding the merged districts, recorded 54 terrorist attacks in August compared with 36 in July, representing an increase of 50 per cent, according to monthly data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).

This is a developing story that is being updated as the situation evolves. Initial reports in the media can sometimes be inaccurate. We will strive to ensure timeliness and accuracy by relying on credible sources, such as concerned, qualified authorities and our staff reporters.