Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye condemn attacks on Kingdom, name first Makkah alliance secretary-general
RIYADH, Oct 5: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have condemned attempts to target the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah and reaffirmed their commitment to protecting Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security at an emergency meeting of the Makkah Alliance for Defence in Riyadh.
The Strategic Political and Defence Committee (S-PDC), established under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, met on Monday to discuss security developments and threats facing Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
The meeting also brought together the foreign and defence ministers and military chiefs of Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, according to Pakistan's Foreign Office.
A key decision was the appointment of retired Pakistani Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood, Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military), as the first Secretary-General of the Makkah Alliance for Defence for a three-year term.
The three countries welcomed the appointment and expressed confidence that Mahmood would contribute to strengthening the alliance and advancing its objectives, the joint statement said.
The meeting strongly condemned what the three countries described as attempted targeting of Makkah and Madinah, as well as continuing attacks against Saudi cities and civilian and economic facilities.
The participants reaffirmed their rejection of any attack or threat against Saudi Arabia's security and territorial integrity.
The three sides also exchanged views on the latest regional developments and expressed their determination to work closely to promote regional peace and stability.
Pakistan, in particular, reaffirmed its “unwavering solidarity” with Saudi Arabia and pledged full support for the Kingdom's sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.
Islamabad also reiterated its commitment to pursuing efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.
The Riyadh meeting comes as the three-nation defence arrangement moves towards greater institutionalisation. At an earlier S-PDC meeting in Istanbul on Aug. 31, the countries agreed to establish a permanent secretariat in Saudi Arabia, initially headed by a Pakistani secretary-general for three years.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye on Aug. 7, with the pact establishing a framework for collective defence and cooperation among the three countries. The S-PDC serves as a key political and military mechanism under the agreement.
The latest meeting was convened amid heightened regional security concerns and recent attacks targeting Saudi Arabia. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had said ahead of the meeting that the S-PDC would discuss the situation surrounding attacks on the Kingdom and broader regional developments.
