Makkah defense pact could take effect if regional talks fail, Pakistan Army spokesperson says

The Makkah defense pact could take effect if diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the US-Iran conflict and wider regional tensions fail, Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has told Independent Arabia.

The director general of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Pakistan was urging all parties to reduce tensions and resolve disputes through negotiations.

What is the Makkah defense pact?

The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement is a three-country defense arrangement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on 7 August. It treats an attack on one signatory as an attack on all three. The arrangement is intended to strengthen deterrence and deepen military cooperation among the countries.

Chaudhry described the pact as the product of a shared strategic vision, saying the three countries had longstanding historical ties and had made significant progress in developing the alliance within a short period.

“The real value of anything is determined by its results,” he said, adding that critics of the agreement were those who had reservations about it.

When would the Makkah defence pact come into play?

Chaudhry said the three-country arrangement would come into play if diplomatic efforts failed and the region descended into further military conflict. He said the two cities held immense significance for Muslims worldwide and that Pakistan was prepared to take all necessary measures to support Saudi Arabia.

He added that attacks on the holy sites had deeply angered Pakistan’s military leadership.

The military spokesperson said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had built their relationship on mutual trust and security cooperation. He added that Islamabad’s commitment to the kingdom’s security remained firm.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia also maintain a separate Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement, adding another layer to their bilateral security cooperation.

What steps has the Makkah alliance taken so far?

The alliance has already taken steps towards implementing its collective-defense commitments. At an emergency meeting in Riyadh on 5 October, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey agreed to provide military forces and capabilities for rapid deployment in the kingdom under approved arrangements and in accordance with their national laws.

The decision came amid escalating attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement on Saudi Arabia, including strikes on key infrastructure. The three countries have not publicly detailed the full scope of the planned deployments.

The pact’s first meeting was held in Istanbul on 31 August, when the three countries agreed to establish a secretariat in Saudi Arabia to coordinate their cooperation. Retired Pakistani Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood was subsequently appointed as its first secretary general for an initial three-year term.