Makkah Alliance secretary general meets PM Shehbaz, briefs premier on defence cooperation

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday met the newly appointed secretary general of the Makkah Defence Alliance, retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood, and was briefed on the strategy to promote “defence and strategic cooperation” under the pact, state-run Radio Pakistan reported. Mahmood was appointed as the first secretary general of the defence alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye last month. The agreement — signed on August 7 — empowers member states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all. During the meeting held on Wednesday, the premier reiterated that the pact was a “historic milestone for peace, unity, and stability in the region” and wished the secretary general well for his new role.

PM Shehbaz also reaffirmed Pakistan’s “unwavering commitment” to the protection of Saudi Arabia’s “sovereignty, territorial integrity and security” during the meeting as the Gulf state, which is a signatory to the pact, has faced escalating tensions with Yemen’s Houthi rebels in recent days. The premier said Pakistan “stands shoulder to shoulder” with Saudi Arabia, according to Radio Pakistan. The meeting comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia launched strikes on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, targeting fuel and energy facilities it said were being used to support missile and drone attacks, as the Yemeni group threatened a “harsh and painful” response against Saudi airports, refineries and oil installations. Hours later, Saudi authorities issued warnings of potential hostile aerial threats in the kingdom’s eastern province and Riyadh. Loud explosions were heard near Saudi Aramco’s headquarters in Dhahran, according to witnesses. Later, a Saudi energy ministry official confirmed the attack.…