Islamabad (Web Desk): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Monday reiterated that the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye was "defensive in nature and was not directed against any country.
“Its purpose is to strengthen collective deterrence against external aggression and reinforce our capacity to defend our sovereignty, territorial integrity and peoples,” the deputy prime minister said in a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO).
Congratulating the nation on the signing of the “Makkah Joint Defence Agreement” in the holy city of Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Dar said the landmark accord demonstrated the strong fraternal ties, shared principles and joint determination of the three countries to promote peace, security and stability.
In his message to the nation, the deputy prime minister described the accord as an important step forward in Pakistan’s longstanding strategic partnerships with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Turkiye.
He said the agreement reflected the three countries’ common determination to enhance coordination and cooperation in responding to the changing security and peace-related challenges confronting the region.
DPM Dar pointed out that the Makkah Accord stipulates that an armed assault on any one of the three signatory states would be considered an attack on all three, in accordance with the inherent right of individual and collective self-defence provided under Article 51 of the United Nations (UN) Charter.
The deputy prime minister stressed that Pakistan continued to support the peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for national sovereignty and international law, and efforts aimed at achieving lasting regional peace, stability and prosperity.
“The Makkah Accord is not an instrument of confrontation, but an expression of our collective commitment to peace through strength, solidarity and mutual respect.”
He acknowledged the key contribution of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the Foreign Office of Pakistan in facilitating the signing of the historic agreement.
“The leadership and vision in safeguarding Pakistan’s national interests and strengthening our strategic partnerships with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, is commendable,” he added.