Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has described the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye as a purely defensive arrangement aimed at strengthening collective deterrence.
Speaking in an interview with Al Arabiya English, the military spokesperson said the agreement had “no offensive, no interference, no aggressive element” and was not directed against any country or alliance. (The Express Tribune)
Chaudhry said the pact formalised Pakistan’s longstanding defence relations with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, while the three countries would retain their independent relations with other countries and alliances.
He said that in the event of an attack on any of the three member states, the response would be determined by the respective leaderships, while operational details of the defence commitments remained classified.
The agreement, signed in Makkah on August 7, stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three states would be regarded as an attack against all three and provides for enhanced defence cooperation. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan)
The DG ISPR said Pakistan’s primary objective was to promote regional stability and prevent existing conflicts from spreading. He noted that Islamabad maintained longstanding relations with both the United States and Iran, which he said placed Pakistan in a position to facilitate dialogue.
Chaudhry stressed that disputes should be addressed through negotiations rather than military confrontation, urging countries willing to facilitate mediation to continue playing an impartial role.
He also indicated that the defence arrangement could remain open to additional partners willing to support regional peace and stability.
