PM Shehbaz reaffirms Pakistan’s security commitment to Saudi Arabia

ISLAMABAD: 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, the meeting focused on regional security and ways to strengthen defence and strategic cooperation under the trilateral agreement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.

During the meeting, Lt Gen (retd) Mahmood briefed the prime minister on strategies to enhance defence coordination and promote strategic cooperation among the three countries.

Shehbaz welcomed Mahmood’s appointment as the agreement’s first secretary-general and extended his best wishes for his new responsibilities. He described the Makkah agreement as an important milestone for regional peace, unity and stability.

The prime minister reiterated that Pakistan stood firmly with Saudi Arabia in safeguarding its sovereignty and security under the agreement. His statement comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and continued attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement on Saudi targets, including civilian facilities and oil infrastructure.

The attacks have heightened concerns about regional stability and the potential impact of the wider US-Iran conflict on neighbouring countries and vital energy infrastructure.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye formalised their defence partnership through the MJDA in August. The arrangement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence, expand military cooperation and support regional stability through defensive coordination.

A day before meeting the prime minister, Mahmood met President Asif Ali Zardari alongside Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. During that meeting, the president expressed confidence that the agreement would contribute to regional peace through cooperation consistent with the United Nations Charter and international law.

The government appointed Mahmood as the agreement’s first secretary-general on September 23. His appointment marked a key step towards establishing the institutional framework needed to implement the trilateral arrangement.

The decision followed the inaugural meeting of the agreement’s Strategic Political and Defence Committee 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 framework, the secretary-general will lead the alliance’s General Secretariat in Riyadh. The secretariat is responsible for coordinating joint activities, overseeing implementation of the agreement and facilitating broader cooperation in defence and military industries.

Mahmood’s appointment places Pakistan in a central role during the agreement’s initial three-year institutional phase. The three countries are now expected to develop mechanisms for closer defence coordination as they work to translate their political commitment into practical cooperation.