CDF Munir, Saudi Arabia envoy satisfied with progress made under Makkah pact

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Saudi Arabia’s newly appointed ambassador, Dr Rajeh Tami Albugamy, have expressed satisfaction over progress under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, the military’s media wing said on Monday.

The Saudi envoy called on Field Marshal Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, where the two sides discussed matters of mutual interest and regional security dynamics, according to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Both dignitaries underscored the importance of strengthening defence collaboration, institutional linkages and strategic coordination under the agreement.

Field Marshal Munir congratulated Albugamy on his appointment and expressed confidence that his tenure would further strengthen the longstanding ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which the ISPR described as rooted in shared faith, mutual trust and strategic partnership.

The meeting comes as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye move to translate commitments under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement into closer military cooperation amid heightened regional security concerns.

The three countries signed the agreement in Makkah on August 7, 2026. It provides for collective defence, with an attack against one member to be treated as an attack against all.

The pact has since moved towards institutionalisation, with the three countries agreeing to strengthen coordination between their armed forces, enhance collective deterrence and develop closer defence cooperation. Pakistan was selected to head the agreement’s secretariat in Riyadh for an initial three-year term.

At a meeting in Riyadh on October 5, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye also agreed to facilitate the rapid deployment of military forces and capabilities in the kingdom in response to security threats, according to the Foreign Office.

Albugamy’s appointment comes amid renewed diplomatic engagement between Islamabad and Riyadh over regional security.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met the Saudi ambassador on October 16 and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to safeguarding the kingdom’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, according to an official statement.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have longstanding defence and economic ties, while the trilateral agreement with Turkiye provides a framework for expanded cooperation among the three countries.