Pak-Saudi-Turkiye defence pact ‘entirely for defensive purposes’, not aggression: PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared on Monday that the newly signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, established on August 7 between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, is purely defensive in nature and not intended for aggression. During a federal cabinet address on Monday, the prime minister stated that the pact was signed in Makkah on Friday by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Shehbaz emphasized that the primary objective of the agreement is to promote peace, progress, and prosperity in the region, not to foster any aggression. He also honored Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir for their roles in facilitating the agreement. The Pakistani government had been negotiating the joint defence pact for several years, as mentioned by Shehbaz.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had already signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in September 2025, while Pakistan and Turkey had been in arrangements for decades. The prime minister recalled Pakistan's long-standing tradition of defending the holy sites of Makkah and Madina alongside Saudi forces. The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was hailed by the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as a significant strategic step, with countries like Kuwait, Bahrain, and Somalia expressing support.

Iran's stance on the agreement was also positively received, focusing on pursuing security mechanisms based on cooperation among regional nations. Prime Minister Shehbaz highlighted the ongoing efforts to eliminate terrorists, stating that "Fitna Al Khawarij are being annihilated day and night" in reference to terrorists affiliated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

He expressed condolences over the deaths of PML-N MNA Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar and other martyrs, emphasizing that their sacrifices will ultimately lead to a peaceful and prosperous Pakistan.