Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the new trilateral defence agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye is not intended to promote aggression against any country. He said the agreement is designed to support regional peace, security and prosperity.
Speaking during a federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Monday, the prime minister described the pact as a continuation of the longstanding cooperation between the three nations. He noted that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had already strengthened their defence relationship, while Pakistan and Turkiye have maintained close cooperation for decades.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed on Friday during a summit attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Under the agreement, an armed attack against any one member is considered an attack against all three countries.
PM Shehbaz said the pact would further strengthen strategic cooperation among the participating nations. He also highlighted Pakistan’s responsibility toward protecting the Haramain Sharifain, saying the country’s people and armed forces consider this an important duty.
The prime minister added that stronger cooperation between the three countries could contribute to the interests and security of the wider Muslim Ummah.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar previously described the agreement as defensive in nature. He said the Makkah Accord reflects the deep relationship between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye and resulted from years of discussions aimed at addressing shared security challenges.
Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz also commented on the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections, saying the results showed public confidence in the PML-N and its leader Nawaz Sharif. He urged political elements to resolve disagreements through dialogue.
On terrorism, the prime minister paid tribute to Pakistani soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the fight against militancy and said the country would continue efforts to eliminate the threat.
