Pakistan and Turkey praise Saudi armed forces' professionalism in safeguarding kingdom's security

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Turkey have praised the vigilance and readiness of the Saudi armed forces, highlighting their professionalism and high level of competence in countering threats and attacks against the Kingdom and in protecting its security and territorial integrity. The remarks came during an emergency meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee of the Makkah Defense Alliance held in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey convened the emergency meeting today in Riyadh to discuss recent security developments and threats facing the Kingdom, within the framework of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement.

The participating countries strongly condemned attempts to target Makkah and Madinah, as well as the ongoing attacks on Saudi cities and civilian and economic facilities. They reaffirmed their unequivocal rejection of any aggression or threat to Saudi Arabia's security and territorial integrity.

As part of the alliance's institutional development, the committee appointed retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood of Pakistan as the first Secretary-General of the Makkah Defense Alliance for a three-year term. The member states welcomed his appointment and expressed confidence in his ability to advance the alliance and achieve its objectives.

The committee reviewed the outcomes of prior political and military consultations and approved the submitted recommendations, emphasizing that the Makkah Defense Alliance represents a firm commitment to joint defense and a unified stance in the face of threats.

The committee decided to immediately move forward with the practical implementation of joint defense commitments, including taking necessary measures to provide and rapidly deploy agreed military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia, in accordance with approved arrangements and national legislation of the member states. This aims to enhance readiness, military integration, and collective ability to confront and respond to threats.

The member states affirmed that the security of each party is an integral part of the collective security of all three countries. They stressed that translating the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement into practical measures will strengthen deterrence, underscore the unity of the three nations, and demonstrate their determination to defend their security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, in line with the agreement's provisions.