Pakistan has appointed Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood (retd), Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military), as the first Secretary General of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.
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According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, the appointment has been made pursuant to the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, which was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in Mecca on August 7, 2026.
The Secretary General will head the agreement’s General Secretariat, which is being established in Saudi Arabia. The three countries had earlier agreed that Pakistan would provide the first Secretary General for a three-year term.
Who is Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood?
Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood is a retired Pakistan Army officer and recipient of the Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military). He previously served as the 35th President of the National Defence University from November 2021 to April 2023.
During his military career, Mahmood held several key command and staff positions. He commanded an infantry regiment and served as Chief of Staff of a corps. He also served as General Officer Commanding of an infantry division in North Waziristan.
He later served in senior appointments at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, including as Inspector General of the Communication and Information Technology Branch.
Mahmood was commissioned into the Pakistan Army on September 11, 1987, and belongs to the Baloch Regiment. He received military education and training at the Pakistan Command and Staff College, Command and Staff College in Egypt, and the National Defence University in Islamabad.
He also served as an instructor at the Command and Staff College, holding positions including Chief Instructor, Senior Instructor and Class A Instructor. Earlier in his career, he commanded 2 Azad Kashmir Brigade based in Rawalakot.
Mahmood was promoted to lieutenant general in April 2019 and subsequently appointed commander of XI Corps in December 2019. He served in the position until November 2021.
What is the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement?
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement is aimed at strengthening collective security, defence cooperation and regional stability among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
Under the agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against all three, reflecting their commitment to collective defence and deterrence. Pakistan’s Foreign Office has described the agreement as defensive in nature and not directed against any particular country.
The agreement also provides for enhanced defence cooperation, including training, capacity-building, defence technology and research cooperation.
On August 31, the three countries held the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee in Istanbul and agreed to further institutionalise cooperation under the Mecca agreement.
Appointment Comes Amid Regional Tensions
The appointment comes amid heightened tensions in the region and renewed concerns over threats to Saudi Arabia.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia’s security and condemned recent Houthi attacks against the Kingdom.
In his message on Saudi National Day, observed on September 23, the prime minister said that any threat to the sanctity and security of the Haramain Sharifain deeply affects Muslims around the world.
He also referred to a recent attempted drone attack near Mecca Al-Mukarramah. Saudi authorities said the drone was intercepted, while the Houthis have denied targeting Mecca.
Pakistan Reaffirms Support for Saudi Arabia
Shehbaz Sharif extended his felicitations to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the people of Saudi Arabia on Saudi National Day.
The prime minister said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoyed longstanding brotherly relations and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the Kingdom’s security.
He also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s ongoing economic and social transformation under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The appointment of Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood as the first Secretary General marks the next step in establishing the institutional structure of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, following the creation of its Strategic Political and Defence Committee.
