RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has described the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye as a defensive arrangement aimed at promoting regional peace and stability.
In an interview with CNN, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) said the agreement was not an alliance that had emerged suddenly, but reflected decades of military, diplomatic and political ties among the three countries.
“Pakistan’s forces have been there in Saudi Arabia for decades,” Chaudhry said, noting that Pakistani troops had served in the kingdom across multiple capabilities and domains.
He said the agreement’s implementation and operational effects would remain purely defensive. Decisions about which forces or units would be deployed, and how the pact would be used, would be made by operational commanders.
The military spokesperson said the agreement was not intended to label any country as an enemy or friend. Its objective, he stressed, was to defend Saudi Arabia and the two holy mosques.
He added that the arrangement would strengthen deterrence by prompting potential actors to think carefully before pursuing hostile objectives.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye on August 7, 2026. It stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against all three, while providing for closer defence cooperation.
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Commenting on the conflict involving Iran and the United States, Chaudhry said Pakistan would continue efforts to reduce differences between the parties and support a negotiated, peaceful settlement.
He said Islamabad wanted the conflict to de-escalate rather than spread further, adding that expanding the war would benefit no one.
Pakistan, he said, had played an impartial role in efforts to secure a ceasefire and remained committed to regional peace and stability.
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“We have been a very honest broker,” the military spokesperson said, according to Radio Pakistan’s report of the interview.
Chaudhry reiterated that Pakistan would continue to support diplomatic efforts aimed at narrowing differences and preventing further escalation.
