Pakistan appoints first secretary-general of Makkah Joint Defense Agreement

According to the Saudi Gazette, the government of Pakistan has officially appointed retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood as the first secretary-general of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement. This trilateral defense pact, which involves Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan, aims to formalize security cooperation between the three nations. The alliance’s General Secretariat is currently being established in Riyadh to oversee the implementation of the agreement.

Lt. Gen. Mahmood, who was commissioned into the Pakistan Army in 1987, brings extensive experience to the role, having previously served as the president of Pakistan’s National Defence University in Islamabad from 2021 to 2023. His appointment follows the formal signing of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement on August 7 by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The establishment of this secretariat marks a significant step in the operationalization of the defense pact. As the first secretary-general, Mahmood will be tasked with coordinating the strategic objectives of the alliance, which seeks to bolster regional security and defense integration among the member states. Further details regarding the scope of the secretariat's operations are expected to be released as the administrative structure in Riyadh becomes fully functional.