Pakistan's new defence alliance chief meets Prime Minister to discuss joint security strategy

In a briefing session, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received Lieutenant General (retd) Nauman Mahmood, the first secretary-general of the Makkah Defence Alliance, to discuss the alliance’s defence and strategic agenda. The alliance, signed on August 7 by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, obliges members to treat an attack on any one as an attack on all. Mahmood, appointed the previous month, outlined the coordination mechanisms and joint response plans.

Sharif hailed the agreement as a historic milestone for regional stability and pledged Pakistan’s unwavering support for Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity. He also expressed confidence in the alliance’s ability to counter the recent escalation of hostilities involving Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The discussion underscored the three nations’ intent to deepen security collaboration in the Middle East.