Makkah Alliance sec-gen meets PM Shehbaz, briefs premier on defence cooperation

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with the newly appointed secretary-general of the Makkah Defence Alliance, Lieutenant General (retd) Nauman Mahmood, on Wednesday to discuss the strategy for promoting defense and strategic cooperation under the pact, according to Radio Pakistan. Lt Gen (retd) Mahmood assumed the role last month, following the agreement signed on August 7 between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye.

The pact empowers member states to treat an attack against one as an attack against all. During the meeting, PM Shehbaz emphasized that the pact marked a "historic milestone for peace, unity, and stability in the region" and expressed his best wishes for Lt Gen (retd) Mahmood in his new role. He also reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering commitment to safeguarding Saudi Arabia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security, as the Gulf state has been facing mounting tensions with Yemen's Houthi rebels recently.

The meeting took place amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia launching strikes on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on Tuesday. Saudi Arabia cited the attacks on fuel and energy facilities as being used to support missile and drone assaults, while the Houthis threatened a "harsh and painful" response against Saudi targets.

In response, Saudi Arabia's civil defense agency reported four casualties and 15 damaged homes due to intercepted Houthi missiles in the capital. Meanwhile, Pakistan has continuously expressed its solidarity with Saudi Arabia. At a Makkah pact emergency meeting in Riyadh on October 5, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye agreed to the quick deployment of military forces and capabilities.

However, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif clarified that only Saudi troops were engaged in combat operations, while Pakistan and Turkiye maintained a "presence in theatre." Pakistan's commitment to the kingdom's security, according to Asif, is "unconditional."