- WEB DESK
- August 9, 2026
Makkah defence accord purely defensive, open to other regional countries: Dar
-
- WEB DESK
- August 9, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said the “Makkah Joint Defence Agreement” signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye is “purely defensive” in nature and is not directed against any country.
In a tweet on social media platform X, Dar said that the agreement’s primary objective was to strengthen collective efforts for peace, stability and prosperity in the wider region.
Dar said the Makkah Accord was not intended to create an exclusive security arrangement and remained open to any country in the region willing to uphold its fundamental principles.
His clarification came amid growing discussion and interest surrounding the agreement, which was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in Makkah on Friday, August 7.
Dar said the accord reflected the “depth of the brotherly relations” between the leaderships and peoples of the three countries and was the culmination of years of discussions and coordination aimed at strengthening strategic cooperation.
He said the three countries shared a desire to work together to address a range of peace and security challenges and promote regional stability.
Attack on one to be considered attack on all
Under the agreement, any external armed attack against any one of the three countries will be considered an attack against all three, Dar said.
He said the provision was consistent with the inherent right of individual and collective self-defence recognised under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Dar stressed that the arrangement did not abrogate or replace any existing bilateral or multilateral agreements between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, or their agreements with other countries and international organisations.
“The Makkah Accord is purely defensive in nature. It is not targeted against any country and its sole purpose is to further strengthen our ongoing efforts towards peace, stability and prosperity in the wider region,” he said.
Dar said that the accord was remained open to any country in the region willing to uphold its fundamental principles.
He said countries joining the framework would be expected to resolve differences through mutual respect, cooperation and peaceful means.
The foreign minister said that the agreement was consistent with the fundamental pillars of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
“Pakistan looks forward to continuing to work closely with all brotherly countries in the region towards lasting peace and stability,” he said.
Dar reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to the peaceful resolution of conflicts and to efforts aimed at creating a more secure, stable and prosperous future for the peoples of the region.
He said that that the Makkah accord followed years of discussions and coordination among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye to deepen strategic cooperation.
The agreement provides a formal framework for closer defence coordination while maintaining the existing bilateral and multilateral arrangements between the three countries, he said.
Its collective-defence provision means that an external armed attack on one signatory would be treated as an attack on all three, triggering their right to act in individual and collective self-defence in accordance with international law.
Dar’s remarks are aimed at clarifying that the agreement is intended as a defensive security arrangement rather than a mechanism directed against a particular state or regional power.
He also emphasised that Pakistan would continue engaging with all countries in the region and pursuing diplomatic and peaceful means to address regional disputes.
The foreign minister’s clarification comes as the new defence framework attracts regional attention, with Islamabad seeking to underline that its objective is enhanced security cooperation, rather than confrontation or the creation of a new bloc in the region.
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