Dar arrives in Istanbul ahead of first meeting under Makkah defence pact

Ishaq Dar, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, arrived in Istanbul on Sunday, marking the onset of his official visit to Turkey. This visit preceded the inaugural gathering under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, a trilateral defence pact involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. The pact, signed on August 7, aims to enhance collective deterrence against any act of aggression, committing that an armed attack against any of the three nations would constitute an attack on all.

The meeting, officially known as the "Strategic Political and Defence Committee," has been scheduled for Monday, August 31, at Istanbul. Turkish officials, including Defence Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of the Turkish General Staff Gen Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, will partake in the deliberations. On his arrival, Dar was warmly greeted by Turkish officials, including Turkish Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration Brig.

General Senol Varol, Pakistan's Ambassador to Turkey Dr Yousaf Junaid, and Turkish Foreign Ministry officials. Later, Dar paid homage at the shrine of Hazrat Abu Ayyub Ansari (RA), offering prayers for peace, prosperity, and unity among Pakistan, the Muslim community, and the region. Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had also extended an invitation to Dar for the upcoming Regional-4 meeting in Istanbul, which will bring together representatives from the three nations of the defence pact along with Egypt.

Dar has confirmed his participation in this broader regional security forum. The Regional-4 group, established in March, focuses on regional security and emerged as part of efforts to mediate between the US and Iran. The latest R-4 meeting took place in Amman on August 5, where ministers reaffirmed the importance of continued consultation and close coordination among the four countries to advance regional stability.

Prior to this, a Cairo meeting in June celebrated the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Iran. The first two meetings of the Regional-4 group were held in Riyadh and Islamabad, respectively. During his UK visit, Dar wrapped up his official tour by concluding a successful visit to the UK, where he met with various officials and interacted with British parliamentarians of Pakistani origin and the Pakistani diaspora in the UK.