ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Sunday that a new defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye is intended solely to strengthen regional security and is not directed at any country.
In a post on X, the foreign minister provided context and clarity on the agreement, writing that the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, signed by the three countries in Makkah on Aug 7, followed years of discussions and coordination to expand strategic cooperation on peace and security issues.
He said the pact does not replace existing bilateral or multilateral arrangements involving the three countries. It also does not affect their agreements with other countries or organizations, he added.
Under the accord, an external armed attack on any one of the three signatories will be treated as an attack on all three. He remarked that the provision is consistent with the right of individual and collective self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
The foreign minister said the agreement intends to support peace, stability and prosperity in the wider region. He added it was not directed against any particular country.
The accord remains open to other countries in the region, he said, adding that they must “accept its principles” and seek to “resolve differences” through “cooperation and peaceful means.”
The agreement covers intelligence sharing, joint training and regional security coordination. It also includes Pakistan sharing responsibility for protecting the Two Holy Mosques, he said.
Dar said the agreement was consistent with Pakistan’s foreign policy, and that Pakistan would continue working with countries in the region to promote lasting peace and stability.
Pakistan remains committed to the peaceful resolution of conflicts and to building a more secure, stable and prosperous future for its people, the foreign minister added.
