Dar Says Makkah Accord Is Defensive, Open to Regional States

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar said Sunday that the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement is defensive in nature and remains open to other regional countries that are willing to follow its core principles.

 

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the agreement on Friday, creating a collective security framework under which an armed attack against one member would be treated as an attack against all three.

 

Dar said the accord reflects the longstanding ties between the three countries and follows years of consultations aimed at strengthening cooperation on shared security and peace-related challenges.

 

He clarified that the agreement does not replace or cancel any existing bilateral or multilateral arrangements involving the three countries. In accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, the pact recognises the right of each member to individual and collective self-defence.

 

According to Dar, the agreement is not aimed at any particular country and is intended to support regional peace, stability and prosperity. He said other countries in the region could join if they accept its principles and are committed to resolving disputes through dialogue, cooperation and peaceful means.

 

Dar said the agreement is consistent with Pakistan’s foreign policy and reflects Islamabad’s commitment to working with regional partners to promote peaceful conflict resolution and greater regional security.

 

Separately, Dar held a telephone conversation with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, during which they discussed regional developments, the Makkah agreement and rising tensions between the United States and Iran. They also exchanged views on the situation in occupied East Jerusalem.

 

Meanwhile, Pakistan rejected allegations by Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities that weapons were being smuggled from Pakistan into Afghanistan. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting described the claim as baseless and inconsistent with established facts.

 

Pakistan said Afghanistan already holds substantial quantities of weapons and military equipment left behind after the withdrawal of US and allied forces, along with large stocks of Soviet-era arms accumulated during decades of conflict.

 

Islamabad accused the Taliban authorities of attempting to shift attention away from the continued presence of terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory. Pakistan urged Kabul to honour its commitments not to allow Afghan soil to be used for terrorism against Pakistan or other countries.

 

President Asif Ali Zardari’s spokesman Murtaza Solangi also criticised the Taliban government, saying Afghanistan remains heavily armed with weapons left behind by foreign forces and maintains links with various militant and criminal networks.

 

Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised a newly released patriotic song from Balochistan ahead of Pakistan’s Independence Day, thanking its singers, performers, producers and others involved in the production.