Nauman Mahmood Appointed First MJDA Secretary General
The appointment places a former senior Pakistani military officer at the head of the new alliance’s permanent secretariat.
Pakistan has announced the appointment of retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood as the first Secretary General pursuant to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA), with the alliance’s General Secretariat to be established in Riyadh.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the appointment on Wednesday, September 23, saying Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood, Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military), would serve as the first Secretary General under the agreement.
“The Government of Pakistan is pleased to announce the appointment of Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood, Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military), (Retired), as the first Secretary General pursuant to Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA),” the Foreign Office said.
According to the statement, the Secretary General will lead the General Secretariat of the alliance, which is being established in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The appointment places a former senior Pakistani military officer at the head of the new alliance’s permanent secretariat.
Makkah Joint Defence Agreement
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA) was signed on August 7, 2026, between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, establishing a framework for enhanced defence and security cooperation among the three countries.
Under the agreement, a General Secretariat is being established in Riyadh to provide an institutional structure for the alliance. Pakistan’s Lt Gen (R) Nauman Mahmood has now been appointed its first Secretary General, marking a key step towards operationalising the agreement.
Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood
Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood is a retired three-star general of the Pakistan Army. During his military career, he held several senior command and staff appointments before retiring from active service.
His appointment as the first Secretary General gives Pakistan a senior leadership role in the newly established framework, while the alliance’s permanent secretariat will operate from the Saudi capital.
Pakistan-Saudi Defence Ties
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia maintain longstanding defence and security ties, including military training, defence exchanges and high-level strategic engagement. In September 2025, the two countries signed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, under which any aggression against either country would be considered an aggression against both.
The establishment of the MJDA framework and its Riyadh-based General Secretariat adds a new institutional dimension to regional defence cooperation.