Pakistan’s Prime Minister Declares Security of the Two Holy Mosques a “Red Line”; Implementation of Makkah Agreement Begins

(Asghar Ali Mubarak)
Expressing its commitment to the full implementation of the Makkah Defense Agreement, Pakistan has declared the security and protection of the Two Holy Mosques a paramount “Red Line” for the country. The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement is a historic, strategic trilateral military alliance among Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Türkiye. This agreement was established to address the region’s evolving security landscape and, specifically, to ensure the defense of the Two Holy Mosques and Saudi Arabia. The agreement was signed during a special summit held in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, on August 7, 2026. It was signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This agreement is an extension of the “Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement” reached between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in September 2025, with Türkiye now included as a partner. The agreement is modeled on the Article 5 principle of the Western defense alliance, NATO. Its defining feature is collective defense, under which:
*   An armed attack on any one of the three signatory nations will be considered an attack on all three.
*   In the event of any external aggression or attack, the three nations will jointly defend one another. Following threats from Yemen’s Houthi rebels to target civilian installations in Saudi Arabia—particularly the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah—an emergency meeting of the alliance’s strategic political and defense committee was convened in Riyadh on October 5, 2026. It was during this meeting that the practical activation of the agreement was announced for the first time. Pakistan and Türkiye have decided to immediately deploy military contingents and defense capabilities to the Kingdom to counter the threats facing Saudi Arabia. A permanent secretariat has been established in Riyadh to manage the alliance’s organizational structure, and Pakistan’s retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mehmood has been appointed as the first Secretary-General of the Makkah Alliance for Defense for a three-year term. This alliance unites three major powers of the Muslim world:
1. Pakistan: The Islamic world’s only nuclear power and a military force with extensive combat experience.
2. Türkiye: Possessor of the second-largest army in NATO and capabilities for manufacturing drones and state-of-the-art defense equipment. 3. Saudi Arabia: A formidable economic and financial power and the center of the Muslim Ummah. This agreement is not an offensive alliance against any third country; rather, its primary objective is to maintain the regional balance of power, eradicate terrorism, and safeguard the sanctity of the Two Holy Mosques. While addressing the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif clearly declared that the security and sanctity of the Two Holy Mosques constitute a “red line” for Pakistan that can never be crossed. He apprised the United Nations that the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement—concluded between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan—is not directed against any nation but represents a collective commitment to ensuring peace, security, and defense in the region. The Prime Minister stated that the attempted attack on Makkah Al-Mukarramah had deeply hurt the sentiments of Muslims worldwide, asserting unequivocally that “no Muslim could even conceive of such a heinous crime.” In his address to world leaders in New York, he strongly condemned the recent drone and missile attacks launched by Houthi rebels against Saudi Arabia, particularly the attempts to target Makkah Al-Mukarramah.
Saudi Arabia relies on weaponry and technology from various nations for its defense system; however, the American ‘THAAD’ and ‘Patriot’ systems form the core of this infrastructure. Defense reports indicate that Saudi Arabia also acquires defense systems from South Korea, Russia, China, Turkey, and Ukraine, deploying them according to the nature of specific threats—particularly drone attacks. Pakistan relies heavily on Chinese technology, especially regarding aircraft, tanks, and missiles. Its military technology also depends to some extent on the United States and France, incorporating assets such as F-15 aircraft, American M113 armored vehicles, and French ‘Mirage’ fighter jets. While Pakistan’s extensive use of Chinese technology could potentially conflict with the American defense systems present in Saudi Arabia, experts suggest that—through improved coordination—this mix could be leveraged to create an effective multi-layered defense system. Saudi Arabia itself utilizes certain Chinese weapons, including ‘Wing Loong’ drones and ballistic missiles, just as Pakistan is accustomed to operating a combination of Chinese and American weaponry. “Pakistan’s JF-17 fighter jets might face challenges regarding interoperability with Saudi air defense systems—specifically Western-made aircraft and the Patriot defense system. This trilateral cooperation, established under the Makkah Defense Pact between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Türkiye, is proving to be a pivotal strategic turning point in the history of the Muslim Ummah’s defense and regional stability. During an emergency meeting held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on October 5 under the Makkah Defense Pact, Türkiye, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia announced plans to operationalize the agreement as soon as possible.
Following the emergency meeting of the strategic political and defense committee, this alliance has been formally activated.
The key details of this historic trilateral cooperation and the joint declaration are as follows:
A NATO-style ‘an attack on one is an attack on all’ principle.
This defense pact, signed by the three nations on August 7, 2026, is modeled after NATO’s Article 5. It stipulates that an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be considered an attack on all of them, warranting a joint response. Notably, according to the declaration issued after Monday’s meeting, the three nations have agreed to the rapid deployment of military troops in Saudi Arabia; this marks the first activation of the defense pact finalized on August 7, 2026, under which an attack on one is deemed an attack on all.” Although the joint declaration did not explicitly name Yemen or the Houthis, it condemned the attacks on Makkah and Madinah. After the meeting, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman said in a social media post that the Makkah Defense Alliance’s strategic, political, and defense committee affirmed solidarity and a unified stance on addressing the attacks, and activated collective response capabilities against them. It remains unclear when Pakistani and Turkish troops will be deployed to Saudi Arabia or what strategic impact this will have on the conflict. The most significant and practical decision emerging from the Riyadh emergency meeting was that, in light of recent security challenges facing the region and Houthi rebel attempts to target Saudi installations and the holy cities (Makkah and Madinah), Pakistan and Turkey would immediately dispatch military contingents and defense capabilities to Saudi Arabia. According to the joint declaration, this deployment is being carried out within the framework of the respective national laws of the parties involved.
Approval has been granted to establish a secretariat in Riyadh to strengthen the organizational structure of the Makkah Defense Alliance. Concurrently, Pakistan’s retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood has been nominated as the alliance’s first Secretary-General for a three-year term.
Under this strategic cooperation, work has rapidly commenced among the armed forces of the three nations on the following matters:
*   Integration of defense capabilities: Enhancing military coordination and joint combat strategies.
*   Timely exchange of information to counter emerging aerial and ground threats in the region. * Collective Deterrence: Establishing a joint and robust defensive shield against any external aggression.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the top political and military leadership of the three nations (including Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir) believe that this alliance not only guarantees Saudi Arabia’s security but has also become indispensable for maintaining the regional balance of power and establishing lasting peace in the Middle East. Speaking to Turkey’s state broadcaster, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made no mention of invoking the mutual defense clause. Praising Saudi Arabia’s “highly constructive attitude,” Fidan stated, “We discussed all aspects regarding the type of support that could be provided to Saudi Arabia concerning the Yemen issue and the measures that could be taken for a peaceful resolution.” He added that both countries also discussed steps to “institutionalize” the Makkah Agreement and deliberated on a roadmap for the alliance; Pakistani fighter jets and military contingents arrived in Saudi Arabia a few days ago, and according to the Saudi Ministry of Defense, this move was executed under the strategic defense agreement concluded between the two nations in September 2025.