Makkah Agreement: Confirmation of Pakistan Army’s Presence in Saudi Arabia
(Asghar Ali Mubarak)
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of the Pakistan Army’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has officially confirmed that Pakistan Army contingents are already present in Saudi Arabia under the Makkah Defense Agreement. In an interview with the US broadcaster CNN, the DG ISPR clarified that the presence of troops under the Makkah Alliance is not a new development; rather, Pakistani military personnel have been serving in Saudi Arabia across various sectors and domains for decades.
Key Points of the Makkah Defense Agreement and Recent Developments:
• Nature of the Agreement: The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement was concluded between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye on August 7, 2026. The fundamental principle of this trilateral agreement is that an armed attack on any one of the three nations will be considered an attack on all of them (modeled after NATO’s Article 5).
• Recent Emergency Meeting: Following recent attacks by Houthi rebels from Yemen on Saudi Arabian installations and cities, an emergency meeting of the Makkah Alliance’s Strategic, Political, and Defense Committee (SPDC) was held in Riyadh on October 5, 2026.
• Activation of Collective Defense: During this meeting, Pakistan, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia agreed to immediately activate “collective defense measures” to counter threats posed by the Houthi militia and to rapidly deploy agreed-upon military contingents and capabilities to Saudi Arabia as required. • Role of Pakistani Leadership: Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar participated in this emergency meeting. The meeting also endorsed the nomination of Pakistan’s Lieutenant General (Retired) Nauman Mehmood as the first Secretary General of the Makkah Defense Alliance.
According to the Pakistan Army spokesperson, Pakistan’s commitment to the security of Saudi Arabia and the protection of the Holy Mosques (Harmain Sharifain) is unconditional. This defense alliance did not emerge suddenly or out of a vacuum; rather, it represents a structured continuation of the long-standing historical, political, and military ties shared by the three brotherly nations.
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of the Pakistan Army’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), confirmed in an interview with the US broadcaster CNN that Pakistani military contingents are present in Saudi Arabia under the Makkah agreement. When asked about the deployment of the Pakistan Army in Saudi Arabia under the Makkah defense pact, the DG ISPR stated that defense relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia span several decades. The Makkah Defense Alliance is not an arrangement that came into existence overnight; instead, it is the result of diplomatic, political, military, and people-to-people ties among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye. Pakistan Army contingents have been deployed in Saudi Arabia for decades, playing a vital role across various sectors. This statement comes in the wake of an emergency meeting of the Makkah Defense Alliance’s Strategic, Political, and Defense Committee (SPDC), held on October 5 in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. During the meeting, a consensus was reached on measures for the immediate deployment of joint military forces and defense capabilities to safeguard Saudi Arabia; additionally, Pakistan’s retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood was appointed as the alliance’s first Secretary-General for a three-year term. Pakistan was represented at the meeting by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir. Following the Riyadh meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told the media that the Makkah Defense Alliance had deliberated on strengthening Saudi Arabia’s defense capabilities and had also given detailed consideration to diplomatic avenues for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Yemen. Prior to this, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had explained that the emergency meeting was convened to review the prevailing situation and ground realities—specifically concerning Saudi Arabia—and to formulate a unified course of action among the three member nations. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye had signed the ‘Makkah Agreement’ on August 7 of this year, an accord that was subsequently designated the ‘Makkah Defense Alliance.’ Under the agreement, the three nations committed to the principle that an attack on any one of them would be regarded as an attack on all three. It is worth noting that, prior to this, an emergency meeting of the strategic defense committee comprising Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey resulted in a decision to immediately deploy military forces to Saudi Arabia and promptly implement collective defense commitments. The joint statement condemned attempts to target Makkah and Madinah, while Lieutenant General (Retired) Nauman Mahmood was appointed Secretary-General of the Makkah Defense Alliance.
According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, Lieutenant General (Retired) Nauman Mahmood was appointed as the first Secretary-General of the Makkah Defense Alliance during the meeting; his tenure will span three years. Welcoming the appointment, all three parties extended their best wishes for his success and expressed confidence in the role he would play in advancing the Alliance.
The joint statement strongly condemned attempts to target Makkah and Madinah and rejected the ongoing attacks on Saudi cities, civilians, and economic infrastructure. The parties declared any attack or threat against Saudi security and territorial integrity to be unacceptable.
Pakistan and Turkey commended the vigilance, preparedness, professionalism, and threat-response capabilities of the Saudi armed forces.
It was decided during the meeting that immediate practical steps would be taken regarding collective defense commitments and that necessary measures would be adopted to provide agreed-upon military forces and defense capabilities.
According to the statement, military forces and defense capabilities will be immediately deployed to Saudi Arabia in accordance with approved arrangements and relevant national laws. According to the parties involved, these decisions will further strengthen military readiness, mutual integration, and the collective capacity to counter various threats.
The three nations emphasized that the security of each individual country is an integral part of their collective security. The declaration stated that the practical implementation of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement would play a pivotal role in reinforcing the commitment to collective defense and enhancing the effectiveness of defensive deterrence capabilities.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Türkiye reaffirmed their commitment to defending their security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, stating that they would take measures to achieve these objectives in accordance with the provisions of the Makkah Agreement.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
The three countries exchanged views on the evolving regional situation and expressed their resolve to work together for regional peace and stability. Pakistan expressed unwavering solidarity with Saudi Arabia and reiterated its full support for the Kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security.
Following the meeting, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman stated that the Strategic Political and Defense Committee had reaffirmed the alliance and solidarity of the member states against Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and the Holy Sites.
According to Prince Khalid bin Salman, the committee agreed to immediately activate collective defense measures—within the framework of the alliance—in response to the attacks and against those responsible for them. He stated that the meeting reaffirmed the solidarity and unity of the three nations in the face of the Houthis’ “grave attacks” on Saudi Arabia and the holy sites.
Regarding the decisions made at the meeting, the Saudi Defense Minister expressed a commitment to making the collective response—against attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and those responsible for them—more effective within the framework of the “Makkah Alliance.” According to the declaration, the agreement aims to strengthen collective defense against any act of aggression; it stipulates that any armed attack against one of the three states will be considered an attack against all of them. The agreement focuses on fostering and strengthening all aspects of defense cooperation among the three nations. Although full details of the agreement have not yet been disclosed, the Pakistani Foreign Office stated that its objective is to bolster collective defense capabilities (deterrence) against any act of aggression and to promote cooperation in the defense sector. Prior to the formal signing ceremony, leaders from the three countries participated in a joint defense summit, where they reviewed the ties and shared interests connecting their nations. Building upon long-standing historical relations, shared strategic interests, and enduring defense cooperation, the three leaders signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement. “This agreement embodies the shared commitment of the three nations to further strengthen their collective security and promote peace, security, and stability within the region and beyond, all in pursuit of a secure and prosperous future.”
The convergence of Saudi Arabia’s immense economic power, Pakistan’s formidable military prowess and nuclear capability, and Türkiye’s state-of-the-art defense technology and drone industry creates an invincible defense triad that will shape the strategic landscape across Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia.
The scope of this agreement extends beyond mere military assistance; it marks the beginning of a long-term roadmap for joint intelligence sharing, advanced military exercises, and the joint production of defense equipment—initiatives that will steer all three nations toward self-reliance in the defense sector.
From Pakistan’s perspective, this agreement represents a monumental victory for our foreign policy and national security.
This joint mission undertaken by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has established Pakistan as a pivotal pillar of the Middle East’s security architecture.
