ISLAMABAD — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering strategic commitment to the collective security and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the tripartite Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA), describing the pact as an indispensable pillar of regional peace and deterrence.
The Prime Minister's statements came during a high-level consultation in Islamabad with Lieutenant General (Retired) Nauman Mahmood, the newly appointed first Secretary-General of the Makkah Defense Alliance. The meeting reviewed ongoing operational integration, intelligence sharing, and regional defense preparedness among member states following recent projectile and drone strikes in the Gulf.
Tripartite Mutual Defence and Strategic Coordination
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, formally finalized between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye, incorporates a collective defense clause stipulating that an armed aggression against any member state shall be treated as an attack against all signatories. The framework establishes joint military command protocols, coordinated air defense monitoring, and regular multi-domain combined exercises.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif underscored that Pakistan's armed forces stand fully prepared to fulfill all defense obligations entrusted under bilateral security treaties and the MJDA charter. The Prime Minister received a comprehensive operational briefing on the institutionalization of the alliance's permanent secretariat and rapid-deployment logistics hubs.
Condemnation of Cross-Border Projectile Aggression
The consultations followed strong joint condemnations by Islamabad and Riyadh regarding recent cross-border Houthi projectile attacks targeting civilian logistical infrastructures in Saudi Arabia, which caused civilian casualties, including Pakistani expatriate workers.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that safeguarding the sovereignty of Saudi Arabia and the sanctity of the Holy Mosques remains a core national policy and an enduring tenet of Pakistan's strategic doctrine. Both sides resolved to expedite joint training programs and enhance multilateral maritime patrols across the Red Sea and Gulf transit corridors. For authoritative analysis on national security and foreign affairs, visit our Pakistan defense news on Pak Pulse 247.