President hails PM, CDF for defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, Turkiye

• PM Shehbaz briefs PM on trilateral pact with Saudi Arabia, Turkiye.
• Zardari stresses effective implementation of trilateral defence pact.
• President reiterates resolve to eradicate terrorism from Pakistan.
  

President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday appreciated the efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Field Marshal and Chief of Defence Forces, Syed Asim Munir for transforming the longstanding fraternal ties among Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan into a stronger strategic partnership.

PM Shehbaz called on the president at the Aiwan-e-Sadr and felicitated him on the occasion of Independence Day, a statement said. The prime minister briefed the president on the “historic” Makkah Joint Defence Agreement reached among Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan on August 7.

Under the agreement signed during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence, an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be regarded as an attack against them all.

The president expressed his best wishes for effective implementation of the trilateral peace agreement, particularly in promoting defence cooperation, regional peace and stability and the security of the Muslim Ummah.

In the meeting, appreciation was expressed for the professional capabilities of Pakistan’s armed forces and law enforcement agencies in operations against the terrorists of Fitna al-Hindustan and Fitna al-Khawarij, including internal and external affairs, the President’s Office said.

The resolve was also reiterated to completely eradicate the scourge of terrorism from the beloved homeland.

‘Relief amid economic difficulties’

The statement added that the president emphasised the need for effective measures to provide relief to the people amid the economic difficulties they face in the context of the current regional situation, and to ensure the uninterrupted supply of essential commodities and their availability at reasonable prices.

President Zardari hoped that Pakistan’s effective diplomatic efforts for the promotion of regional and global peace would further strengthen the country’s international standing, and that its positive impacts would be reflected in the national economy and the lives of the people.