PM Shehbaz briefs President Zardari on Makkah defence agreement

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday met President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr and briefed him on the historic defence agreement reached among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye in Makkah.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye last week formalised their longstanding strategic relationship through the newly signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, a trilateral security framework described as a defensive arrangement aimed at strengthening collective deterrence, enhancing military cooperation and promoting regional stability.

A statement issued by the Presidency said President Zardari expressed his best wishes for the effective implementation of the trilateral agreement, particularly in promoting defence cooperation, regional peace and stability, and the security of the Muslim world.

He appreciated the efforts of PM Shehbaz and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Gen Syed Asim Munir to transform the longstanding brotherly ties among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye into a stronger strategic partnership.

During the meeting, the premier also felicitated the president on the country’s 80th Independence Day.

Read: What the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-Turkiye defence pact is — and what it isn’t

The agreement, signed during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence, has prompted comparisons with military alliances such as Nato. According to security analysts, however, the pact is intended to formalise decades of existing strategic cooperation rather than create a new military bloc or offensive alliance.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wanted to see the alliance expand, with Egypt among potential candidates to join the pact.

“Our president’s vision is that we don’t remain limited to three countries, that we grow and bring together all (regional) countries under this roof,” he said, adding that Egypt could potentially join the pact once certain technical matters were resolved.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation also welcomed the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement among Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan.

Meeting reviews counter-terrorism efforts

The meeting also reviewed internal and external affairs, with the participants paying tribute to the professionalism of Pakistan’s armed forces and law enforcement agencies in operations against terrorists of Fitna al-Hindustan and Fitna al-Khawarij.

The participants reiterated their resolve to completely eliminate terrorism from the country.

Fitna al-Hindustan is the term used by the state to refer to terrorists belonging to the proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army and other militant groups operating in Balochistan, while Fitna al-Khawarij refers to terrorists belonging to the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

In the context of the prevailing regional situation, President Zardari stressed the need for effective measures to provide relief to people facing economic difficulties, ensure uninterrupted supplies of essential commodities and make them available at reasonable prices.

He expressed the hope that Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to promote regional and global peace would further strengthen the country’s standing internationally and have positive effects on the national economy and people’s lives.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior and Narcotics Control Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan and Senator Sherry Rehman were also present during the meeting.