Pakistan: Mecca Agreement Is Solely for Defense

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has clarified that a trilateral defense agreement signed with Turkey and Saudi Arabia is strictly defensive in nature and poses no threat to any other nation. The agreement, signed in Mecca, is intended to bolster joint efforts towards regional peace, stability, and prosperity.

Dar emphasized that the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement is not directed against any specific country. Instead, its sole purpose is to enhance cooperative measures for the wider region's well-being. The pact, which treats an attack on one signatory as an attack on all three, is open to accession by any regional country willing to adhere to its core principles of mutual respect and peaceful conflict resolution.

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The sole purpose of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement is to strengthen joint efforts toward peace, stability, and prosperity in the wider region.

This defense pact aligns with the inherent right of individual and collective self-defense as outlined in Article 51 of the UN Charter. Foreign Minister Dar reiterated that the agreement does not supersede existing bilateral or multilateral arrangements between the signatory nations or with other countries and organizations.

According to Dar, the Mecca Agreement is the culmination of years of discussions and coordination, driven by a shared desire to strengthen strategic cooperation in addressing security challenges and promoting regional stability. He affirmed that the pact is consistent with Pakistan's foreign policy fundamentals, expressing Islamabad's commitment to working with regional partners for lasting peace and stability.

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We remain committed to advancing the cause of peaceful resolution of all conflicts and building a more secure, stable and prosperous future for our peoples.