Pakistan: 'Mecca for Joint Defense' agreement remains open to any country in the region - Sarmad

(KUNA) — Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar affirmed on Sunday that the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement remains open to any country in the region willing to adhere to its fundamental principles and resolve differences through mutual respect and cooperation by peaceful means.

In a statement regarding the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, Dar said the pact reflects the deep fraternal ties linking the leaderships and peoples of the three countries.

He added that the agreement is the result of years of discussions and coordination, driven by a shared desire to strengthen strategic cooperation to address various peace and security challenges and to advance regional peace, stability, and prosperity. He noted that the agreement “does not nullify or replace any existing bilateral or multilateral agreements between these countries or between them and other states or organizations.”

The Pakistani Foreign Minister stated that “any external armed attack on any of the three countries would be considered an attack on all of them, in accordance with the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.”

He pointed out that the Mecca Agreement is “purely defensive in nature and not directed against any state,” with its sole objective being “to enhance our ongoing efforts to achieve peace, stability, and prosperity across the entire region.”

Dar said the agreement “aligns with the core pillars of our foreign policy,” expressing Pakistan’s hope to continue working closely with all countries in the region to achieve lasting peace and stability.

He reaffirmed the commitment to continue “advancing the peaceful resolution of all conflicts and building a safer, more stable, and prosperous future for our peoples.”