ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia will hold the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee established under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Istanbul on Monday.
The meeting is the first formal session of the strategic committee created under the agreement signed by the three countries on August 7 to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression.
The pact stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three countries would be regarded as an attack on all.
Pakistan will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the Foreign Office said.
The meeting will also be attended by the foreign and defence ministers and chiefs of general staff of Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
“Pakistan’s participation in the meeting signifies Pakistan’s historic bonds of friendship with the brotherly countries of Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, as well as its desire for lasting regional peace and stability,” the Foreign Office stated.
Senior Leaders Arrive In Istanbul
Field Marshal Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Türkiye on Sunday ahead of the inaugural committee meeting.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of Turkish General Staff Gen Selcuk Bayraktaroglu will represent Türkiye at the meeting.
Ahead of the session, Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler met Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif in Istanbul. Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen Selcuk Bayraktaroglu also attended the meeting.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Istanbul on Sunday.
Both sides expressed satisfaction at the continued strengthening and expansion of bilateral relations in the political, economic, security and cultural domains, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said.
Welcoming the progress achieved under the framework of the Pakistan–Turkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), the two foreign ministers agreed on the early convening of the next HLSCC session.
The two sides also exchanged views on issues of regional and international importance and reaffirmed their commitment to continue working closely for regional peace and stability.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah.
The significance of the pact has also drawn interest from other countries. Bangladesh has expressed its willingness to join the agreement, with Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman telling parliament that Dhaka would “positively” consider an invitation from the founding members to join the alliance.
