Field Marshal Munir Holds Key Meetings in Istanbul for Makkah Defence Pact

During his official visit to Türkiye for the Makkah Defence Alliance summit, Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir held a significant meeting with Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister, Khalid bin Salman.

Field Marshal Munir also conducted separate discussions with Türkiye's Foreign Minister, Minister of National Defence, and the Chief of the Turkish General Staff. The talks reportedly focused on matters of mutual interest, strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, and the regional security situation.

Ahead of the first high-level meeting of the Makkah Defence Alliance in Istanbul, Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler held separate talks with Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. Turkey’s Ministry of Defence released footage of the meetings.

The Istanbul summit brings together the foreign ministers, defence ministers, and military chiefs of Pakistan, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia. The alliance's Strategic Political and Defence Committee is expected to develop an operational roadmap and identify concrete avenues for closer military collaboration.

The Turkish delegation includes Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, and Chief of General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu.

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir met with Turkish National Defence Minister Yaşar Güler in Istanbul on Monday.

The meeting took place ahead of the inaugural session of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, established under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia.

According to the Foreign Office, Pakistan's delegation for the trilateral meeting also includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

Signed on August 7, the Makkah pact allows member states to consider an attack on one as an attack on all. The Istanbul meeting is expected to focus on enhancing defence capabilities, military interoperability, and cooperation in the defence industry.

Talks have commenced in Türkiye between Field Marshal and Chief of Defence Forces Syed Asim Munir and Turkish officials, focusing on regional security.