New Delhi: Pakistan has appointed retired Lt-Gen Nauman Mahmood as the first Secretary-General of the Secretariat that will oversee implementation of the Mecca pact—the trilateral defence agreement between Saudi, Turkey and Pakistan.
The Pakistan foreign ministry in a post on X wrote: “The Government of Pakistan is pleased to announce the appointment of Lt. Gen Nauman Mahmood, Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military), (Retired), as the first Secretary General pursuant to Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.”
Adding, “The Secretary General will lead the General Secretariat of the Alliance being established at Riyadh.”
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August, pledging to treat an armed attack on any one of the three countries as an attack on all.
The agreement followed a separate bilateral mutual defence agreement Islamabad and Riyadh signed in September 2025.
The full operational provisions of either of the agreements have yet to be made public.
Lt-Gen Mahmood’s appointment comes against the backdrop of the military offensive by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis to wrest control of Red Sea shipping from Saudi Arabia. Earlier this month, the Saudis also claimed they intercepted a drone approaching restricted airspace near Mecca, Islam’s holiest site. The Houthis denied any role. Turkey and Pakistan condemned the alleged targeting of Mecca, but did not commit military reinforcements.
Meanwhile, the Houthis have advanced in recent weeks along Yemen’s Red Sea coast around the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, raising fears about greater disruption to shipping and energy supplies already strained by closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Also Read: Saudi-Pakistan defence ties, from 1960s to now & why Houthi ‘attack’ didn’t activate Mecca pact
Who is Lt-Gen Nauman Mahmood
Lt-Gen Nauman Mahmood previously served as the 35th president of the National Defence University in Islamabad, from November 2021 to April 2023. He also served as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of an infantry division in North Waziristan District.
Before he was promoted to Lt-Gen, Mahmood—with the rank of Major General—served as Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence’s (ISI’s) analysis wing. He was later appointed to the Pakistan Army General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi as Inspector-General (IG) for the Communication and Information Technology branch.
Mahmood belonged to the Baloch Regiment and was promoted to Lt-Gen in April 2019. He was subsequently appointed Commander of XI Corps in December 2019, a position he held until 23 November, 2021, when he was succeeded by Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed.
His appointment comes as the widening conflict in West Asia brings Pakistan’s defence commitments to Saudi Arabia into sharper focus.
“Pakistan stands unwaveringly, shoulder to shoulder, with the Kingdom in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and the sanctity of Islam’s holiest sites,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Wednesday, on Saudi National Day, while condemning the recent Houthi attacks.
Sharif described Pakistan’s longstanding relationship with Saudi Arabia as a strengthened strategic partnership, citing the two defence agreements. He did not announce any new deployment, or specify whether Riyadh had requested military assistance.
Sharif’s remarks followed a meeting Tuesday at the United Nations, where the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt affirmed Riyadh’s right to defend itself under international law while calling for a diplomatic resolution to the wider regional crisis.
“The Ministers strongly condemned all attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including the recent Houthi attacks, and reaffirmed their unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the Kingdom. They further affirmed the Kingdom’s inherent right to defend itself, its territory, and its people, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations. They also stressed the importance of safeguarding the safety and freedom of maritime navigation,” the statement read.
Adding, “The Ministers reaffirmed their unwavering support for the legitimate Yemeni Government and the Presidential Leadership Council in their efforts to achieve security, stability and development in Yemen through a political process and an inclusive Yemeni – Yemeni dialogue involving different parties.”
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
Also Read: Mecca Pact’s first test—Saudi Arabia needed allies. Pakistan and Turkey offered kind words