Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to protecting Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security during a meeting with Lieutenant General (retd) Nauman Mahmood, the first secretary-general of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA).
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the meeting focused on regional security and strategies to strengthen defence and strategic cooperation under the trilateral agreement.
Shehbaz congratulated Mahmood on assuming his new position and expressed his best wishes for his tenure.
“The Makkah peace agreement is a historic milestone for peace, unity and stability in the region,” the prime minister said, reaffirming Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia’s security under the framework of the agreement.
Pakistan Reaffirms Support for Saudi Arabia
The meeting comes amid heightened regional tensions and reported attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group on Saudi territory, including civilian and energy infrastructure. The developments have raised concerns about the wider regional consequences of the conflict involving the United States and Iran.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained close defence and strategic ties for decades. The MJDA, signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye in August, provides a trilateral framework intended to strengthen collective deterrence, expand military cooperation and support regional stability.
During the meeting, Mahmood briefed Shehbaz on strategies to advance defence and strategic coordination among the three countries.
The PMO said the discussions centred on promoting cooperation within the agreement’s institutional framework as the participating countries work to establish mechanisms for implementing their commitments.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye vow rapid force deployment under Makkah pact
Makkah Defence Agreement Takes Shape
Mahmood’s appointment as the MJDA’s first secretary-general represents a significant institutional step for the agreement.
The government announced his appointment on September 23, following the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee held in Istanbul on August 31. The meeting brought together the foreign and defence ministers and military chiefs of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.
Under the agreed arrangement, the secretary-general will lead the alliance’s General Secretariat, which is based in Riyadh. The secretariat is expected to coordinate joint activities, oversee implementation of the agreement and support expanded cooperation in the defence industry.
Pakistan’s role in establishing and leading the secretariat during its initial three-year period also provides Islamabad with an opportunity to help shape the alliance’s administrative and operational framework.
President Zardari Also Meets MJDA Chief
A day before meeting Shehbaz, Mahmood held discussions with President Asif Ali Zardari in the presence of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
During that meeting, Zardari expressed confidence that the agreement would contribute to regional peace and stability through defensive cooperation guided by the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.
The meetings with Pakistan’s top leadership highlight Islamabad’s focus on developing the agreement’s institutional structure and translating its political commitments into practical defence coordination.
As Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye move forward with the new arrangement, the establishment of the secretariat is expected to play a central role in organising trilateral cooperation and implementing the agreement’s objectives.
