Masood Khan Terms Makkah Pact a Historic Step Towards Collective Deterrence, Regional Stability
ISLAMABAD, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 18th Aug, 2026) 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 here on Tuesday.
In a statement issued here, he stated that the pact was a long-awaited collective defence mechanism for Muslim countries and a significant step towards strengthening regional deterrence and stability.
Khan noted that Muslim countries had aspired for decades to develop a collective defence arrangement but were unable to translate that aspiration into practice. He highlighted that vulnerability among these nations intensified following Israel’s attack on Palestinian negotiators in Doha last year, leading Gulf countries to recognize the need for robust deterrence capabilities.
He explained that the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in September 2025 served as a foundation for this expanded mechanism, with Türkiye joining the pact this year, while Egypt has also expressed interest in participating.
Khan emphasized that the Makkah Pact should not be perceived as a threat to existing regional power structures or any specific country. Instead, he said, its primary purpose is defensive, aiming to safeguard Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye against aggression through collective deterrence.
The former diplomat stated that the pact has been welcomed by the United States, sending a powerful message that aggression against any of the three signatories would be treated collectively, thereby bolstering deterrence.
He observed that the pact comes in response to ongoing instability in Gaza, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Lebanon, as well as unresolved crises surrounding the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Bab al-Mandab. These factors have created a pressing need for greater regional security and maritime stability.
Khan further suggested that the agreement could potentially expand to include countries such as Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Such an expansion, he noted, would broaden the regional reach of this emerging security architecture.
Emphasizing non-proliferation efforts, Khan stated that the signatories do not aim for an arms race. Instead, the primary objective is to strengthen deterrence while investing political capital in diplomacy, conflict prevention, de-escalation, and peaceful resolution of regional disputes.
