Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Muhammad Ishaq Dar, assured his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, during a phone call held today, Monday, that the agreement signed with Saudi Arabia and Turkey carries no aggressive objectives whatsoever. Dar emphasized that this agreement is open
for other regional countries to join. The two ministers also discussed regional developments and joint efforts to strengthen peace and stability. A statement issued by the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that the call involved Dar reviewing the features
of the "Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense," which was signed last Friday between Pakistan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Republic of Turkey. He affirmed that its objectives revolve around enhancing strategic cooperation and actively contributing to achieving peace
and security at the regional level. For his part, Araghchi expressed his appreciation and gratitude to his Pakistani counterpart for providing him with the main details and aspects of the agreement, and the two ministers agreed to maintain close communication
regarding matters of mutual interest. In a related context, the Pakistani Foreign Minister stressed that "the signing of the Mecca Agreement marks a significant milestone in the deeply rooted strategic relations between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, reflecting our shared
determination to enhance cooperation in confronting the escalating challenges that threaten peace and security in our region." He further clarified that "the agreement is purely defensive in nature, is not directed against any specific country, and aims to strengthen collective
deterrence against any external aggression, and to enhance our capacity to protect our sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peoples," according to an earlier statement issued today. Dar reiterated his country's firm commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for the
principles of sovereignty and international law, and moving forward towards achieving regional peace, stability, and prosperity. It is worth noting that Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,
and Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif had signed the "Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense" last Friday, which stipulates that any armed attack on one of the three countries is considered an attack on all signatory parties.
