Pakistan, KSA reaffirm Makkah's joint defence

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia reaffirmed their commitment to continue joint efforts aimed at confronting attacks targeting Makkah Al-Mukarramah, as well as civilian and economic facilities in the kingdom, in accordance with the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defence. "We commended the outcomes of the meeting of the Chiefs of Staff of the countries party to the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defence, and discussed the sinful attacks that targeted Makkah Al-Mukarramah, as well as civilian and economic facilities in the Kingdom," Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman said in a post on his social media platform X. "I met with His Excellency the Chief of the Pakistan Army, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Commander of the Pakistan Armed Forces," he further said. Saudi Minister of State, Cabinet Member and National Security Adviser Dr Musaad bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, Chief of General Staff General Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, and the Minister of Defence's adviser for intelligence affairs, Hisham bin Abdulaziz bin Saif, among other senior officials, also attended the meeting, according to the post. The meeting came a day after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on Friday held an urgent meeting of their top military commanders in Riyadh under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA), marking the first exclusive high-level military coordination between the three countries since the trilateral defence pact was signed last month. Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen Selcuk Bayraktaroglu and Saudi Chief of General Staff Gen Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili attended the meeting in the Saudi capital, according to a statement issued by the ISPR on Friday. The chiefs of defense forces and chiefs of general staff reviewed the security situation and the threats facing the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They strongly resented the attacks targeting the holy city of Makkah and civilian and economic infrastructure, the Inter-Services Public Relations said. They appreciated the vigilance and professionalism of the Saudi armed forces for ensuring safety of the people and security of the kingdom, it added. The participants also discussed ways to further advance cooperation among the armed forces of the three countries and to enhance intelligence sharing, military coordination, and capability integration, thereby strengthening deterrence and collective defense. The participants commended the longstanding relations and mutual trust that bind the people and the armed forces of the three countries. They noted that their meeting in Riyadh reflects the strength of their defense partnership and their shared determination to immediately translate the commitments of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement into effective military cooperation. The participants strongly affirmed their commitment to collective defense thereby demonstrating the resolve of the three countries in defending the security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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