Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The top defence officials of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye have reaffirmed their resolve to defend the Gulf kingdom under the Makkah Defence Alliance, according to the Pakistan Army. The move comes after recent attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The trilateral defence agreement, signed by the three countries last month, lays down a framework for collective deterrence and says that an armed attack on any one of them will be treated as an attack on all. The latest meeting also followed talks between the three countries’ foreign ministers in New York, while Pakistan on Wednesday named former Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood as the first secretary-general of the alliance.
advertisement
The meeting of the chiefs of defence forces and chiefs of general staff of the three countries was held in Riyadh on Friday, the army said in a statement. The participants reviewed the security situation and the threats facing Saudi Arabia.
“The participants strongly affirmed their commitment to collective defence, thereby demonstrating the resolve of the three countries in defending the security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia,” the statement said. It added that the participants expressed resentment over attacks targeting the Holy City of Makkah as well as civilian and economic infrastructure, and appreciated the vigilance and professionalism of the Saudi Armed Forces.
The three sides also discussed ways to deepen cooperation among their armed forces and to improve intelligence sharing, military coordination and capability integration. According to the army, they said the Riyadh meeting reflected the strength of their defence partnership and their shared determination to immediately turn the commitments of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement into effective military cooperation.
In sum, the Riyadh meeting underlined the three countries’ decision to strengthen collective defence for Saudi Arabia, building on last month’s trilateral pact, the New York meeting of their foreign ministers and Pakistan’s appointment of the alliance’s first secretary-general.
With PTI Inputs
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
