<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday affirmed that the recently signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was \u201centirely for defensive purposes\u201d, and not for any aggression.<\/p>\n
The joint defence agreement, signed<\/a> on August 7 between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, aims to strengthen collective deterrence and empowers its signatory states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them.<\/p>\n Addressing the federal cabinet on Monday, PM Shehbaz recalled that he, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the pact<\/a> in Makkah on Friday.<\/p>\n The prime minister stressed that the objective of the pact is to \u201cpromote peace, progress, and prosperity in the region\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIts purpose is definitely not that any aggression occurs. It is entirely for defensive purposes, for peace, tranquillity and progress in the region,\u201d he affirmed.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe this agreement is a source of strength not just among these three countries, but for the entire Muslim ummah,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n PM Shehbaz particularly felicitated Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as well as Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir on the signing of the agreement.<\/p>\n Efforts for the joint defence pact had been underway for \u201cmany years and materialised this Friday\u201d, the prime minister said.<\/p>\n He noted that while Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had already entered the \u201cStrategic Mutual Defence Agreement<\/a>\u201d in September 2025, Islamabad and Ankara also had \u201carrangements for decades\u201d between them.<\/p>\n PM Shehbaz recalled that the Pakistani nation and the army had been honoured to \u201cdefend the world\u2019s holiest places\u201d of Makkah and Madina for years along with the Saudi forces.<\/p>\n \u201cLast year, with Allah\u2019s grace, this arrangement was officially recognised so that a proper agreement was signed. Friday\u2019s agreement is another extension of it, with a trilateral agreement signed.\u201d<\/p>\n In a statement issued by the Foreign Office earlier in the day, Dar felicitated the nation on the agreement\u2019s signing. He reiterated his comments from Sunday<\/a> wherein he said the pact was defensive in nature and not directed against any country.<\/p>\n Dar also noted that the term of treating an attack on one of them as an attack against all three was \u201cconsistent with the inherent right of individual and collective self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter\u201d.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement has been hailed by the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as an \u201cimportant strategic step\u201d.<\/p>\n Kuwait<\/a>, Bahrain and Somalia are among the countries that have welcomed it. Iran\u2019s comments<\/a> also took a rather positive tone, stressing its stance of pursuing \u201csecurity mechanisms based on cooperation between regional countries\u201d.<\/p>\n Speaking on Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), PM Shehbaz favoured dialogue with protesters who have been at odds with the authorities over the 12 seats reserved for refugees and other issues, leading to a tense situation in the region for the past two months.<\/p>\n He said that once the new government comes to power in AJK \u2014 with PML-N already claiming a two-thirds majority \u2014 the matter of continuing talks with the protesters \u201cwill progress\u201d.<\/p>\n The prime minister declared that those \u201cwho only want to cause anarchy will not be allowed to do so, but those who want to peacefully and patiently discuss the situation, the new government will provide a chance for that\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIn any respected society, no permission can be given for lawlessness. If there is any demand or any matters, they should be resolved through talks at a table,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n PM Shehbaz went on to say that the government had \u201cclear evidence that those who purposefully worsened the situation there were working on the directives of the enemy\u201d.<\/p>\n He recalled that despite that, the government had held a multi-party conference in Muzaffarabad before the elections, with only one political party being absent \u2014 apparently referring to the PTI which has boycotted the polls.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery aspect was discussed there, and [\u2026] those who wanted refugee seats to be changed, reduced or abolished were advised to let the elections go on as planned and bring forward their case in the new assembly,\u201d he said, adding that this would resolve the matter as per the constitution of AJK.<\/p>\n \u201cAll matters were settled, but they remained adamant on this and needlessly insisted, which unfortunately worsened the situation,\u201d the prime minister said.<\/p>\n Speaking about the ongoing elections in AJK, PM Shehbaz asserted that Kashmiris have \u201coverwhelmingly voted\u201d for his PML-N.<\/p>\n The PML-N has so far bagged 24 seats<\/u><\/a> out of a total 45 \u2014 nine from Mirpur<\/u><\/a> polls held<\/u><\/a> on July 27 and 15<\/u><\/a> in the second phase<\/u><\/a> comprising Muzaffarabad Division and the 12 refugee seats. The third phase of elections in Poonch Division began today<\/a>.<\/p>\n The prime minister noted that based on the results from Mirpur and Muzaffarabad divisions, along with the seats reserved for refugees from India-held Kashmir, the PML-N has \u201calmost established a majority\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThis vote is a vote of trust in Mian Nawaz Sharif and for his leadership. I am hopeful that once we set up a government there, under his leadership, AJK will once again set out on the journey to progress and prosperity,\u201d he said, thanking those who voted for his party.<\/p>\n At the federal cabinet meeting, PM Shehbaz also touched upon the issue of terrorism in the country and mentioned the lives lost in recent terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n He noted that terrorists escalated their activities in \u201csome areas of Pakistan in the past few days\u201d.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n The premier recalled the August 2 Swat suicide bombing<\/a> that claimed 17 lives<\/a> and the martyrdom of Deputy Superintendent of Police Diyar Khan in an attack<\/a> on a Hangu police checkpost.<\/p>\n He paid tribute to the sacrifices of the personnel, including Captain Hamza Akram and Major Hafiz Ihsan Elahi, who were martyred during operations in Hangu<\/a> and North Waziristan<\/a>, respectively.<\/p>\n The prime minister affirmed that \u201cFitna Al Khawarij<\/em> are being annihilated day and night\u201d, referring to terrorists affiliated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).<\/p>\n \u201cThese sacrifices will not go in vain and will bear fruition. One day will come when Pakistan will once again be free from terrorism and will move rapidly towards peace and progress,\u201d PM Shehbaz said.<\/p>\n The prime minister also expressed his condolences over the death<\/a> of PML-N MNA Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar, describing him as a \u201clongtime friend\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was a person who was a supporter in bad times,\u201d he said, adding that he and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif knew Channar since 1985. The cabinet also prayed for the elevated ranks of the martyrs and Channar.<\/p>\n<\/a>\u2018Once in power, AJK govt will offer dialogue to those willing\u2019<\/h2>\n
<\/a>\u2018Terrorists being annihilated day and night\u2019<\/h2>\n