ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, held a series of high-level meetings in Istanbul during his official visit to Turkiye, focusing on regional security and strengthening bilateral defence cooperation.
Army Chief separately met Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defence, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Foreign Minister of Turkiye Hakan Fidan, Minister of National Defence of Turkiye Yaşar Güler and Chief of the Turkish General Staff, General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, said a statement issued by the military’s media wing, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), on Monday.
#ISPR
Official Press ReleaseField Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), HJ, Chief of Army Staff & Chief of Defence Forces (COAS & CDF) of Pakistan, during his official visit to Türkiye, held a series of high-level engagements in Istanbul.
COAS & CDF separately met H.R.H. Prince… pic.twitter.com/JXxwWfmVKI
— Pakistan Armed Forces News 🇵🇰 (@PakistanFauj) August 31, 2026
During the engagements, matters of mutual interest, bilateral defence cooperation and the regional security environment were discussed.
Army Chief also attended the meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee under the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defence, bringing together Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia.
“The three sides reviewed avenues for further strengthening strategic coordination and defence cooperation,” ISPR said.
The engagements reflected the close bonds of brotherhood and growing strategic and defence cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.
Makkah Defence Alliance to have first Secretary General from Pakistan
Earlier, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye agreed to establish a permanent secretariat to institutionalise their cooperation under the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defence, with the first Secretary General of the Makkah Defence Alliance from Pakistan for a period of three years.
The three countries agreed to further institutionalise their cooperation under the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defence, seeking to strengthen solidarity, enhance the credibility and effectiveness of their collective deterrence and defence, and contribute to efforts for a just, inclusive and lasting peace in the region.
The decision was taken at the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee format established under the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defence. The inaugural meeting was held in Istanbul and was attended by the foreign and defence ministers and Chiefs of Defence Forces/Chiefs of General Staff of the three countries.
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Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif represented Pakistan at the high-level meeting.
In a joint statement, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye said they would work together within the framework of the Makkah Agreement to promote sustainable peace and stability in the region and continue supporting de-escalation and restraint to encourage the peaceful resolution of crises.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Foreign Office said Pakistan’s participation in the meeting signifies its “historic bonds of friendship with the brotherly countries of Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, as well as its desire for lasting regional peace and stability”.
The inaugural ministerial meeting under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement is being seen as the first step towards establishing a framework for trilateral strategic and defence cooperation.
