Pakistan says Mecca defense pact 'purely' defensive, open to expansion

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Sunday that the trilateral Mecca defense agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye is “purely” defensive in nature and not directed against any specific country, emphasizing that the pact aims to strengthen joint efforts toward regional peace while remaining open to other powers.

Collective defense framework

The agreement, signed Friday in the holy city of Mecca, treats an attack on any one of the three signatories as an attack on all. “Any external armed attack on any one of the three countries will be considered an attack on all, consistent with the inherent right of individual and collective self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter,” Dar said. He added that the pact does not replace existing bilateral or multilateral agreements.

Regional expansion

Dar noted that the defense framework remains open to any country in the region willing to uphold its fundamental principles. The pact welcomes nations that resolve differences through “mutual respect, cooperation and peaceful means,” he said. The Mecca 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,” Dar added.

The agreement aligns with the fundamental pillars of Islamabad's foreign policy, Dar said, emphasizing that Pakistan looks forward to working closely with all brotherly countries toward lasting stability. “We remain committed to advancing the cause of peaceful resolution of all conflicts and building a more secure, stable and prosperous future for our peoples,” he said.