The signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye is a historic development,” said Sardar Masood Khan, Former Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, China and the United Nations, and former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, saying the pact as a long-awaited collective defence mechanism for Muslim countries and a significant step towards strengthening regional deterrence and stability.
In an interview with Azerbaijani news agency, Sardar Masood Khan said Muslim countries had aspired for decades to develop a collective defence mechanism but had been unable to translate that aspiration into a practical arrangement. He said the realisation of vulnerability intensified after Israel’s attack on Palestinian negotiators in Doha last year, prompting Gulf countries to recognise the need for an effective deterrence capability.
He said the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in September 2025 subsequently served as the nucleus for the expansion of the mechanism, with Türkiye joining the pact this year while Egypt has also expressed interest in becoming part of it.
Sardar Masood Khan emphasised that the Makkah Pact should not be viewed as an attempt to disrupt the existing regional power structure or target any particular country. Rather, he said, its fundamental purpose is defensive: to ensure that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye are protected against aggression through collective deterrence.
Drawing a comparison with NATO, he noted that NATO comprises 32 members and possesses extensive resources, funding and nuclear capabilities.
