Makkah Joint Defence Agreement: Pakistan vows to defend Saudi Arabia, DG ISPR says

Pakistan will defend Saudi Arabia under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said.

In an interview with US broadcaster CNN, Pakistan’s military spokesperson described the agreement as a defensive arrangement designed to strengthen regional security and stability.

Lt Gen Chaudhry said Pakistani forces had been stationed in Saudi Arabia for decades, serving in various roles and fields. He stressed that the agreement was not a sudden development but reflected a longstanding military partnership between the two countries.

Explaining how the pact could operate, he said any measures taken under the agreement would remain strictly defensive. Operational commanders would determine its implementation, including decisions on troop deployments and the use of military personnel, he added.

The DG ISPR said the agreement could help address emerging regional security challenges by establishing a collective defence framework. Under its terms, an attack on one member would be treated as an attack on all, a principle he said could deter potential aggressors.

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He clarified that the arrangement was not designed to label any country as an enemy or a friend, but to strengthen the participating countries’ defensive capabilities.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to the kingdom’s security, Lt Gen Chaudhry said defending Saudi Arabia was one of the agreement’s primary objectives and that Pakistan would honour its commitment.

He also discussed Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to help end the conflict between the United States and Iran. He said Islamabad had previously facilitated dialogue and would continue working to reduce differences and encourage a peaceful settlement through negotiations.

Pakistan wanted to prevent the conflict from spreading further, he said, adding that the country remained committed to diplomatic initiatives aimed at achieving peace.

Lt Gen Chaudhry described Pakistan’s role in efforts to secure a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran as that of an honest and impartial mediator.