{
  "id": 14422327,
  "title": "Makkah Alliance secretary general meets PM Shehbaz, briefs premier on defence cooperation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/makkah-alliance-secretary-general-meets-pm-shehbaz-briefs-premier-on-14422327",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-14T09:51:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2037071/makkah-alliance-secretary-general-meets-pm-shehbaz-briefs-premier-on-defence-cooperation"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met the new secretary general of the Makkah Defence Alliance, Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood, on Wednesday, receiving an update on plans to strengthen defense and strategic ties between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye. The alliance, established on August 7, stipulates that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. During the discussion, the prime minister emphasized the pact's significance for regional peace, unity, and stability, while reaffirming Pakistan's steadfast commitment to safeguarding Saudi Arabia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security amid escalating tensions with Yemen's Houthi rebels. The meeting occurred amidst growing regional tensions, with Saudi Arabia launching airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on Tuesday, targeting fuel and energy facilities used for missile and drone attacks. In response, Saudi authorities warned of potential hostile aerial threats in the kingdom's eastern province and Riyadh, and confirmed that four people were injured and 15 homes were damaged by intercepted Houthi cruise missiles. Pakistan has consistently shown solidarity with Saudi Arabia, with the Makkah pact leaders agreeing to deploy military forces in an emergency meeting on October 5.",
  "summary": "Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday met the newly appointed secretary general of the Makkah Defence Alliance, retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood, and was briefed on the strategy to promote “defence and strategic cooperation” under the pact, state-run Radio Pakistan reported. Mahmood was appointed as the first secretary general of the defence alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn - Pakistan",
        "title": "Makkah Alliance sec-gen meets PM Shehbaz, briefs premier on defence cooperation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/makkah-alliance-sec-gen-meets-pm-shehbaz-briefs-premier-on-defence",
        "published": "2026-10-14T05:54:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "PM Shehbaz reaffirms Saudi defence commitment amid rising tensions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/pm-shehbaz-reaffirms-saudi-defence-commitment-amid-rising-tensions",
        "published": "2026-10-14T06:49:34.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}