ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday met the first Secretary General of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA), Lieutenant General (retd) Nauman Mahmood, and stressed the importance of the alliance in promoting regional peace and stability.
According to the Foreign Office, Dar congratulated Mahmood on his appointment and wished him success in carrying out his responsibilities. He also highlighted Pakistan’s continued diplomatic efforts to strengthen peace and stability at regional and international levels.
The meeting comes as Pakistan intensifies its diplomatic engagement to reduce tensions in the Middle East. Islamabad has been seeking to facilitate dialogue between Iran and the United States while maintaining its security commitments and strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia.
Earlier this week, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Iran agreed to continue four-way dialogue on regional peace and security following a meeting in Tehran involving senior military, defence and intelligence officials from the countries associated with the Makkah defence framework.
The discussions reflect ongoing efforts to address regional security challenges through consultation and diplomatic engagement, particularly amid heightened tensions involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi group.
Mahmood was appointed the MJDA’s first secretary general on September 23. His appointment marked an important step towards establishing the alliance’s administrative structure and formalising the work of its general secretariat in Riyadh.
The defence framework gained prominence after Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in August. Under the pact, aggression against either country would be treated as aggression against both, strengthening their commitment to mutual security.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have also formalised their longstanding strategic ties through the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, which is intended to strengthen collective deterrence, expand military cooperation and support regional stability.
Dar’s meeting with Mahmood underscores Islamabad’s emphasis on the alliance’s role in addressing security concerns while pursuing diplomatic solutions to regional disputes.
