Makkah defence pact open to countries willing to uphold its principles, says Ishaq Dar

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement remains open to countries willing to uphold its core principles, stressing that the pact is defensive in nature and aimed at promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Dar made the remarks after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on Friday, establishing a collective security framework under which an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be regarded as an attack against all.

In a statement posted on X, Dar said the Makkah Accord reflected the deep-rooted brotherly ties among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye and was the result of years of discussions and coordination aimed at strengthening strategic cooperation in addressing shared peace and security challenges.

He clarified that the agreement neither abrogates nor replaces any existing bilateral or multilateral agreements involving the three countries.

Dar said that, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, an armed attack against any one of the signatories would be regarded as an attack against all, consistent with the right to individual and collective self-defence.

Emphasising the defensive nature of the pact, the foreign minister said the agreement was not directed against any country and its sole purpose was to reinforce efforts aimed at promoting regional peace, stability and prosperity.

He added that the agreement remained open to any country in the region prepared to uphold its fundamental principles and resolve differences through mutual respect, cooperation and peaceful means.

Dar said the accord was consistent with the fundamental pillars of Pakistan’s foreign policy and reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to working with regional partners to peacefully resolve conflicts and build a more secure and prosperous future.

The defence pact was signed during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence, attended by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The agreement comes amid heightened regional tensions following the US-Israel war on Iran, which has had a significant impact on the wider Middle East and disrupted maritime traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

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Turkiye has NATO’s second-largest military, Saudi Arabia is a major regional and energy power, while Pakistan is the only nuclear-armed Muslim country.

Following the signing of the pact, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan wanted the alliance to expand, with Egypt among the countries that could potentially join.

Pakistan has also remained engaged in diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing regional tensions and promoting dialogue between the conflicting sides.

In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the agreement reflected the three countries’ shared commitment to strengthening collective security and promoting peace, security and stability in the region and beyond.

The Foreign Office said the agreement was intended to strengthen collective deterrence against aggression and stipulated that an armed attack against any one of the three states would be regarded as an attack against all three.

The agreement also provides for enhanced cooperation across all areas of defence among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.

The development comes a year after Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defence agreement under which aggression against either country would be treated as aggression against both.