Pakistan says Makkah defence pact open to countries upholding its principles

• Dar says Makkah Accord purely defensive, not targeting any country.
• Adds defence pact reflects years of trilateral strategic coordination.
• Pakistan reaffirms commitment to collective security under accord.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar said on Sunday that 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 wider region.

His statement came after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the joint defence pact on Friday, establishing a collective security framework that considers an armed attack against any member state as an attack against all three countries.

In a statement posted on X, DPM Dar said the agreement, the Makkah Accord, reflected the deep-rooted brotherly ties among the three countries and was the result of years of discussions and coordination to strengthen strategic cooperation in addressing shared peace and security challenges.

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

He added that, in line with Article 51 of the United Nations (UN) Charter, an armed attack on any one of the signatories would be regarded as an attack on all, consistent with the right to individual and collective self-defence.

Emphasising that the agreement is not directed against any country, he said its sole purpose is to reinforce ongoing efforts to promote regional peace, stability and prosperity.

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

The foreign minister 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 advance the peaceful resolution of conflicts and build a more secure and prosperous future.

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

Regional powers are looking to strengthen security ties against the backdrop of the US-Israel war on Iran, which started on February 28, and has had a major impact on the region — drawing in several Gulf countries and paralysing maritime traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Turkiye has Nato’s second-largest military. Saudi Arabia, the strongest Gulf state, is one of the world’s top oil exporters, while Pakistan is the only nuclear-armed Muslim country.

Following the signing of the defence pact, Turkish FM Hakan Fidan said that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wanted to see the alliance expand, and that Egypt was a potential candidate to join, among others.

Pakistan has been in the spotlight since the war began as it has played the role of a key mediator between the warring US and Iran.

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

“The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, and stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against them all,” it added.

The agreement also provides for the enhancement of all aspects of defence cooperation among the three countries, the FO statement added.

This comes a year after Pakistan signed a mutual defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, committing both sides to treat any aggression against either country as an attack on both.