Press Release
Round Table Discussion
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and the Emerging Regional
Security Architecture
18 August, 2026
The Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organised a Roundtable Discussion on “The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and the Emerging Regional Security Architecture” on August 18, 2026. Former diplomats, leading academics, security analysts and prominent practitioners joined the discussion, which focused on the significance of the recently concluded Makkah Joint Defence Pact, its potential impact on the regional security landscape, and the evolving role of Pakistan in the emerging regional security architecture.
Participants noted that the Agreement could be seen as a first step towards a broader regional security architecture, which, with possible inclusion of other states in future, could contribute to regional peace and stability. They underscored the defensive nature of the agreement and that it was not targeted towards any country.
