Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye defence chiefs meet in Riyadh: ISPR

RAWALPINDI: The chiefs of defence forces and chiefs of general staff of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye met in Riyadh on Friday to review regional security developments and strengthen military cooperation under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA)

The meeting focused on the security situation and threats facing Saudi Arabia, with participants strongly condemning attacks targeting Makkah as well as civilian and economic infrastructure.

The military leaders also praised the Saudi armed forces for their vigilance and professionalism in protecting the country’s population and maintaining its security.

The participants discussed measures to deepen defence cooperation among the three countries, including greater intelligence sharing, military coordination and integration of capabilities aimed at strengthening deterrence and collective defence.

They also highlighted the longstanding relations and mutual trust between the three countries and their armed forces, saying the Riyadh meeting reflected the strength of their defence partnership.

The participants reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA) through practical military cooperation and stressed their resolve to collectively defend Saudi Arabia’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

First secretary general of alliance appointed

Earlier this week, Pakistan appointed retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood as the first secretary general alliance, marking a key step towards establishing the trilateral security arrangement.

The Foreign Office said Lt Gen Mahmood would head the alliance’s General Secretariat, which is being established in Riyadh under the MJDA.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye had agreed at the inaugural meeting of the alliance’s Strategic Political and Defence Committee in Istanbul on August 31 that Islamabad would provide the secretary general for the first three-year term. The meeting also decided to establish the alliance’s permanent secretariat in Riyadh.

The secretariat is expected to provide an institutional framework for coordination among the three countries, covering joint activities, defence and technology cooperation and implementation of collective defence commitments.

Profile of Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood

Lt Gen Mahmood, a former corps commander and president of the National Defence University, retired from the Pakistan Army in April 2023 after a career spanning field command, intelligence, strategic analysis and military education.

Commissioned into the Baloch Regiment in 1987, he served in several instructional roles at the Command and Staff College and later commanded an infantry division in North Waziristan during counterterrorism operations.

He subsequently served as director general of the Analysis Directorate at Inter-Services Intelligence before becoming inspector general of Communications and Information Technology at General Headquarters.

In December 2019, he took command of XI Corps in Peshawar, overseeing the formation during a period of heightened security concerns along Pakistan’s western border and developments surrounding the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

He later became president of the National Defence University, serving as its 35th head until his retirement.

As the alliance’s first secretary general, his immediate task will be to help establish its institutional structure and translate the political commitments of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye into practical defence cooperation.