PM Shehbaz says Makkah defence pact sends message of peace, unity

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said the recently signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye had brought the three countries closer together and sent a message of peace and unity across the region.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Shehbaz made the remarks during a meeting with Saudi Minister for Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad.

Welcoming the Saudi minister, the prime minister reaffirmed the deep-rooted, fraternal ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and conveyed his warmest regards for Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Shehbaz said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan had “brought the three countries even closer together” and sent “a message of unity and peace throughout the region”, the PMO said.

The agreement was signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a trilateral summit at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah.

The pact provides for an attack against any one of the member states to be treated as an attack against all three, reflecting their commitment to strengthening collective security and promoting peace, security and stability in the region and beyond.

Pakistan has said the agreement is open to other countries in the region willing to uphold its fundamental principles.

During Friday’s meeting, Shehbaz stressed the need for Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to focus on deepening economic and agricultural ties, saying the two strategic partners should work towards a stronger and mutually beneficial trade and investment partnership.

The prime minister expressed satisfaction over constructive engagement between the two sides, particularly regarding Pakistan’s exports of agricultural products to Saudi Arabia.

The two sides also discussed measures to enhance agricultural productivity in Pakistan through technology, research and development and more efficient use of water resources, according to the PMO.

Shehbaz announced that a delegation of Pakistani agricultural experts would soon visit Riyadh to advance the discussions and realise the full potential of the partnership.

The Saudi minister thanked the prime minister for the hospitality extended to him and his delegation and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Pakistan in agriculture, water and food security.

The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Rana Tanveer Hussain, Mohammad Aurangzeb, Atta Tarar, Jam Kamal Khan, Musadik Malik and Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, as well as Dr Syed Tauqir Shah, Bilal Azhar Kiyani, SAPM Tariq Fatemi and senior government officials.