Islamabad, August 9(Sub News) 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.
