LAHORE, Aug 9: Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday described the newly signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye as a purely defensive arrangement, stressing that it is not directed against any particular country.
Dar said the agreement is intended to deepen strategic coordination among the three nations while contributing to peace, stability and prosperity across the wider region.
The accord was signed on Friday in Mecca by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Al-Safa Palace.
Under the agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three signatories will be treated as an attack against all three. The arrangement is based on the principle of individual and collective self-defence recognised under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
In a post on X, Dar said the agreement reflected the longstanding ties between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye and followed years of discussions and coordination aimed at addressing emerging peace and security challenges.
He clarified that the pact does not replace or invalidate existing bilateral or multilateral arrangements involving the three countries, including their agreements with other states and international organisations.
Dar said the agreement is also open to other countries in the region that are prepared to respect its core principles and resolve differences through dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect.
According to the Pakistani foreign minister, the arrangement is consistent with Islamabad’s foreign-policy objectives and its stated commitment to peaceful conflict resolution.
“Pakistan looks forward to continuing to work closely with all brotherly countries in the region towards lasting peace and stability,” Dar said.
The agreement comes against the backdrop of growing security concerns in West Asia, where tensions have spread across several fronts, including the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The developments have encouraged regional countries to explore stronger mechanisms for security cooperation.
Pakistan has also sought to facilitate dialogue between the United States and Iran. Islamabad said last week that it was making efforts to help bring Washington and Tehran back to negotiations under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in June.
Dar reiterated that Pakistan would continue supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions and promoting a more secure, stable and prosperous region.