Pakistan claims Mecca defense pact is purely defensive and open to other nations

Pakistan has emphasized that the recently signed Mecca Joint Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey is not directed against any specific country and welcomes participation from other nations. The clarification comes from Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, aiming to allay potential concerns about the pact's intentions.

Dar stated that the agreement is purely defensive in nature and focuses on strengthening ongoing efforts for peace, stability, and prosperity across the region. He highlighted that the pact is the culmination of several years of discussions and mutual consultations, designed to enhance strategic cooperation in response to various security challenges.

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The Mecca Agreement is purely defensive in nature, is not directed against any country, and is aimed solely at further strengthening ongoing efforts for peace, stability and prosperity across the wider region.

The agreement, signed in Mecca on August 7, establishes a collective self-defense principle. It stipulates that an external armed attack against any one of the three signatory countries will be considered an attack against all three. This provision aligns with the right of individual and collective self-defense as outlined in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister reaffirmed the nation's commitment to collaborating with other regional countries to foster lasting peace and stability. He stressed the importance of working towards the peaceful resolution of disputes and building a safer, more stable, and prosperous future for all peoples in the region. The agreement does not supersede existing bilateral or multilateral pacts involving the three nations.

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We remain committed to advancing efforts for the peaceful resolution of all disputes and to building a safer, more stable and prosperous future for our people.