ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, defence and regional security under the Makkah Defence Alliance, describing the agreement as a historic milestone for regional peace and stability.
The prime minister made the remarks during a meeting with Lieutenant General (retd) Nauman Mahmood, the alliance’s first secretary-general, in Islamabad on Wednesday.
Shehbaz congratulated Mahmood on assuming the position and expressed his best wishes for his tenure.
He said the Makkah defence agreement marked an important step towards promoting peace, unity and stability in the region.
The prime minister reaffirmed that Pakistan stood shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia in safeguarding its sovereignty, defence and regional security under the agreement.
He also expressed Pakistan’s full support for Saudi Arabia’s legitimate right to defend itself and reiterated Islamabad’s unwavering commitment to protecting the kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.
During the meeting, Mahmood briefed the prime minister on plans to promote defence and strategic cooperation under the framework of the Makkah Defence Agreement.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement represents a further step in longstanding military and strategic cooperation between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
Signed in Makkah on August 7, 2026, the pact established a framework for collective deterrence and defence cooperation. Under its provisions, an armed attack on one member would be treated as an attack on all three.
The three countries already maintain extensive military ties. Pakistan has provided training and technical assistance to Saudi forces for decades, while Islamabad and Ankara have developed close defence links through military training, naval cooperation and defence equipment.
The signing in Makkah, Islam’s holiest city, added symbolic significance to an agreement bringing together three countries with substantial military and strategic capabilities.
