Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye are set to sign a joint defence agreement during the trilateral summit in Saudi Arabia on Friday, according to media reports.
Regional powers are looking to strengthen security ties against the backdrop of the US-Israel war on Iran, starting on February 28.
Pakistan has been acting as a mediator to try to end the US-Iran war that has drawn in several Gulf countries and paralysed maritime traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in the kingdom on Thursday for a visit lasting until Saturday, while Turkiye President Erdogan is expected to arrive today, according to the Turkish presidency.
Makkah’s Deputy Governor Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz and Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley received Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistani delegation upon their arrival in Jeddah.
PM Shehbaz and Field Marshal Munir also performed Umrah during the ongoing Saudi visit.
Speaking at the weekly media briefing on Thursday, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said PM Shehbaz will undertake an official visit to Saudi Arabia from August 6 to 8 to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments.
“PM Shehbaz will meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the visit,” the FO said, adding that the talks would focus on strengthening Pakistan-Saudi Arabia bilateral relations and exchanging views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.
He said the delegation would also include Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who is currently in Saudi Arabia after concluding a visit to Jordan.
The FO added that the talks would focus on strengthening Pakistan-Saudi Arabia bilateral relations and exchanging views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.
The spokesperson said the visit is important for promoting regional peace, diplomatic cooperation and a shared strategy for stability.
Pakistan, he added, continued its diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions in the Middle East and support the peaceful resolution of disputes.
The Foreign Office later issued an official statement detailing the PM Shehbaz’s Saudi Arabia visit.
Riyadh and Islamabad signed a mutual defence pact in September 2025, committing both sides to treat any aggression against either country as an attack on both. That significantly deepened a decades-old security partnership.
In April this year, Pakistan sent fighter jets and other military forces to Saudi Arabia to boost security under a defence pact between the two countries, the Saudi defence ministry said.
Islamabad has long provided military support to Riyadh, including training and advisory deployments, while Saudi Arabia has repeatedly stepped in to support Pakistan financially during periods of economic stress.
2026-08-07 05:52:00
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