ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has informed his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi that the recently signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye aims to strengthen strategic cooperation among the three countries and contribute to regional peace and security.
During a phone call, the Pakistani and Iranian Foreign Ministers exchanged views on regional and international developments, with particular focus on the evolving situation in the region and efforts to promote peace and stability, a Foreign Office statement said on Monday.
Foreign Minister Araghchi thanked Ishaq Dar for sharing the key aspects of the Agreement. Both Ministers agreed to remain in close contact on matters of mutual interest, the statement said.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 spoke today with Foreign Minister of Iran Abbas Araghchi @Araghchi.
They exchanged views on regional and international developments, with particular focus on the evolving situation in the region and… pic.twitter.com/UXm4e42PnV
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 10, 2026
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed a joint defence pact on Friday, establishing a collective security framework under which an armed attack against any one member is considered an attack against all three.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the pact during the “Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence”.
Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif were also present at the signing ceremony.
Iran says Defence pact not against Tehran
Earlier, Iran said there is “no reason to worry” that the new defence agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye is directed against Tehran, pointing to its deep religious, historical and civilisational ties with all three countries.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei made the remarks on Monday while commenting on the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
Baqaei said the agreement was also an indication of a changing perception among regional countries about how security should be achieved.
“Considering the developments of the last two to three years, the countries of the region have realised that security is not a commodity that can be bought from false security brokers,” Iran’s state media quoted him as saying in an apparent reference to the United States.
He said regional states appeared to be moving towards arrangements based on their own capabilities and regional perspectives rather than relying on security guarantees from powers outside the region.
Defence Pact entirely for defensive purposes
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressing a federal cabinet meeting said that the recently signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye is entirely for defensive purposes, and not for any aggression.
Also Read: Pakistan-Saudi-Turkiye Defence Pact ‘Entirely for Defensive Purposes’: PM Sharif
The prime minister said the agreement is not intended to facilitate aggression against any country.
“Its purpose is definitely not that any aggression occurs. It is entirely for defensive purposes, for peace, tranquillity and progress in the region,” he affirmed.
“I believe this agreement is a source of strength not just among these three countries, but for the entire Muslim ummah,” he noted.
He felicitated Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as well as Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on the signing of the agreement.
Shehbaz said efforts to establish the trilateral defence framework had been under way for several years and had finally materialised with the signing of the pact in Makkah.
He noted that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had already signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in September 2025, while Pakistan and Turkiye had maintained defence and security arrangements for decades.
Defence Pact open to countries committed to its core principles
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday said that the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement remains open to countries willing to uphold its core principles and resolve differences through mutual respect, cooperation and peaceful means.
“The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, jointly signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye in Makkah Mukaramma on Friday 7th August 2026, reflects the depth of the brotherly relations between the leadership and peoples of the three countries,” Ishaq Dar said in a post on X.
In the light of ongoing discussion and interest surrounding the “Makkah Joint Defence Agreement” (The Makkah Accord) over the past two days, the following context and clarity on this Agreement may be useful for everyone to note:
• The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, jointly…
— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) August 9, 2026
He added the Accord is the culmination of years of discussions and coordination, with a common desire to strengthen strategic cooperation in addressing multifarious peace and security challenges and advancing regional peace, stability and prosperity.
“The Makkah Accord does not abrogate or replace any existing bilateral or multilateral agreements between these countries, or with other countries or organisations,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.
