ISSI Hosts Roundtable on “Makkah Joint Defence Agreement” and Emerging Regional Security Architecture

ISLAMABAD — The Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted an elite roundtable discussion on “The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and the Emerging Regional Security Architecture.”

The high-level panel brought together a prominent group of former diplomats, leading strategic academics, defense analysts, and policy practitioners to decipher the strategic long-term impact of the recently finalized defense pact.

🏛️ Strategic Nature of the Agreement

  • A Regional Foundation: Panelists evaluated the Makkah Joint Defence Pact as a foundational, progressive step toward building a highly synchronized and broader regional security architecture.
  • Strictly Defensive Framework: The assembly strongly underscored the purely defensive nature of the agreement, explicitly clarifying that the pact is not targeted or directed toward any third-party country or specific regional actor.
  • Inclusivity for Regional Peace: Experts noted that the potential, future inclusion of other regional states into this defense framework will directly contribute to sustainable peace, security stabilization, and geopolitical balance.

🇵🇰 Pakistan’s Evolving Geopolitical Role

  • Regional Security Architecture: The roundtable extensively analyzed Pakistan’s critical, changing role within this new defense alignment, highlighting its strategic position as a bridge for security cooperation.
  • Diplomatic and Intellectual Synergy: Speakers noted that balancing partnerships through diplomatic dialogue and policy engagement remains vital to navigating the changing Middle Eastern and South Asian security matrices.

👥 Distinguished Speakers & Participants

The roundtable featured extensive expert insights from leading regional practitioners, including:

  • Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman, Board of Governors, ISSI
  • Ambassador Moin ul Haque, Director General, ISSI
  • Ms. Amina Khan, Director, Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA)
  • Senior security analysts, academic researchers, and senior diplomatic correspondents who actively debated the operational dynamics of the pact.