Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye agree to establish secretariat under Makkah defence pact

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have agreed to establish a ‌secretariat in Saudi Arabia under the Makkah joint defence agreement.

The secretariat will initially be ​headed by a Pakistani secretary-general ⁠for three years, according to a joint ​statement issued on Monday. The statement came after a meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Ministers of Defence as well as Chiefs of Defence Forces/Chiefs of General Staff of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye in Istanbul.

"Today, they agreed to take steps to further institutionalize their cooperation within the Makkah Agreement in a manner that would enhance their solidarity, ensure the credibility and effectiveness of their collective deterrence and defence, and contribute to the regional efforts and cooperative security towards a just, inclusive and lasting peace," read the statement.

Tweet by Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan

"A Secretariat, headed by a Secretary General, will be established in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support their work within the framework of the Makkah Agreement. The Secretariat will be initially headed by a Secretary General from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for a period of three years."