Dar says six more countries are interested in joining the Pakistan-Saudi-Turkey defense pact.
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar revealed that at least six countries are interested in joining the Makkah Defense Treaty, although he did not name them.
He said Islamabad could not immediately process membership applications as the treaty’s secretariat still needed to be fully operational.
The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on August 7. The treaty establishes a mutual defense framework whereby an armed attack against one member is treated as an attack against all three.
Dar said the agreement is clearly defensive in nature, and said the document states that the agreement has no offensive purpose while allowing other countries to join.
The upcoming Riyadh meeting is expected to review the regional situation and Saudi Arabia’s security concerns before the three countries decide on their next steps.
He also elaborated on the situation in KSA, saying that Iran has distanced itself from the Houthis in Yemen and armed groups in Iraq, as Islamabad prepares for an important meeting of the Strategic Committee of the Makkah Defense Treaty in Saudi Arabia. He noted the escalating situation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who said Tehran had no ties to the Houthis or Iraqi armed groups.
Dar said he reminded the Iranian foreign minister that Pakistan is a party to a defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey and Islamabad will abide by its commitments under the pact.
According to Dar, Araqchi suggested that the Houthis and Iraqi groups be engaged through political means rather than military action. However, this proposal has not been accepted as a decision by the coalition. Dar clarified that the Strategic Political and Defense Committee (SPDC) of the Makkah Defense Agreement will discuss the issue, the committee is expected to meet in Riyadh in the coming days.
The post Six more countries are interested in joining Pakistan, Saudi-Turkish defense pact, says Dar appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.
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