rki.news | Source: Dawn
Pakistan’s Foreign Office said Friday that retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood, Secretary General of the Makkah Defence Alliance, is expected to assume his responsibilities in Riyadh soon.
Mahmood was appointed on September 23 as the first secretary general of the trilateral alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed on August 7, provides for collective defence in case of an armed attack against any member.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said the three countries would jointly decide when to convene an alliance meeting.
He said Pakistan remained committed to supporting Saudi Arabia’s security. Pakistan’s military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry previously stressed that the alliance was purely defensive and had no offensive intentions.
Türkiye’s parliament approved the agreement on Thursday, while Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have already completed their ratification processes.
Pakistan Supports Regional Diplomatic Efforts
Khan also said Pakistan, Qatar and other countries were actively supporting efforts to promote dialogue between Iran and the United States.
He stressed that regional peace could be achieved through political dialogue and diplomacy rather than war.
He also criticised Israel’s regional policies, saying its expansionist ambitions were contributing to the ongoing crisis.
