Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Pakistan Names Nauman Mahmood First Head of Makkah Pact Secretariat
Pakistan chose retired army officer Nauman Mahmood to lead the office for a new defence agreement.
The agreement connects Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
It says that an attack on one country would be treated as an attack on all three.
The office will be located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Its job is to help carry out the agreement.
Mahmood previously held several senior positions in Pakistan’s military and intelligence services.
He also led Pakistan’s National Defence University.
The appointment comes during rising tensions involving the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan and Turkey condemned alleged attacks but did not announce new military deployments.
Pakistan appointed retired Lt-Gen Nauman Mahmood as the first secretary-general of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement Secretariat.
The Secretariat will be established in Riyadh and oversee implementation of the trilateral pact among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
The pact says an armed attack on one member will be treated as an attack on all three.
Mahmood previously led Pakistan’s National Defence University and held senior military, intelligence and communications posts.
His appointment comes amid Houthi attacks and regional security concerns, although the Houthis denied involvement in an alleged drone incident near Mecca.
- Who
- Pakistan appointed retired Lt-Gen Nauman Mahmood, who received the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military), as secretary-general.
- What
- He will lead the General Secretariat overseeing implementation of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
- When
- The articles report that Pakistan announced the appointment after the agreement was signed in August; no announcement date is specified.
- Where
- The Secretariat will be established in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The appointment is intended to organize implementation of the defence pact among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey amid regional security tensions.
Pakistan-Saudi-Turkey Position
Houthi Position
Alleged drone incident near Mecca
Pakistan-Saudi-Turkey Position
Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a drone approaching restricted airspace near Mecca. Pakistan and Turkey condemned the alleged targeting of the holy site.
Houthi Position
The Houthis denied any role in the alleged drone incident.
Saudi security and regional response
Pakistan-Saudi-Turkey Position
Pakistan, Turkey and other officials affirmed Saudi Arabia’s right to defend its territory and supported its sovereignty and security. They also stressed maritime safety and a political resolution for the wider crisis.
Houthi Position
The articles report Houthi military activity in Yemen and along the Red Sea coast, but do not include a detailed Houthi response to the wider diplomatic statement.
Military commitments under the pact
Pakistan-Saudi-Turkey Position
The pact commits its members to treat an attack on one as an attack on all, while Pakistan and Turkey have not announced new military reinforcements in response to the reported incident.
Houthi Position
The Houthis denied involvement in the incident that raised questions about whether the pact would be activated.
- Appointee
- Retired Lt-Gen Nauman Mahmood
- Position
- First secretary-general of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement Secretariat
- Secretariat location
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Pact members
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey
- Mutual-defence principle
- An armed attack on one member is to be treated as an attack on all three
- National Defence University
- Mahmood served as its 35th president from November 2021 to April 2023
- Military career
- He was promoted to lieutenant general in April 2019 and previously served in senior army, intelligence and communications roles
