Pakistan has appointed Lieutenant General (retd) Nauman Mahmood as the first Secretary General of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
The appointment was announced by the Foreign Office on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. According to the government, Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood will lead the alliance’s General Secretariat, which is being established in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye on August 7. The agreement provides a framework for closer defence cooperation and collective security among the three countries. One of its key provisions states that an armed attack against one member will be considered an attack against all three.
The decision to establish a permanent secretariat was taken during the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee in Istanbul on August 31. The three countries agreed that the secretariat would initially be headed by a Pakistani Secretary General for a period of three years.
The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation in defence, security, technology and defence industries while supporting regional peace and stability.
The appointment of Nauman Mahmood marks a step toward institutionalising the alliance and establishing its permanent administrative structure in Riyadh.
The three member states are expected to continue developing mechanisms for joint cooperation and coordination under the agreement as the new secretariat begins its work.
