More than six nations keen on joining Makkah defence pact: DPM Dar

Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday confirmed that more than six countries had expressed interest in joining the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, DPM Dar reiterated that the pact is defensive in nature and not intended for offensive purposes.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the "Makkah Joint Defence Agreement" on August 7, weeks before Yemen's Houthis launched attacks against Saudi Arabia.

Similar to NATO's Article 5, the pact — later named the Makkah Defence Alliance — stipulates that an attack on any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack on all of them.

Dar said the first meeting under the Makkah agreement was held on August 31, with the headquarters of the pact to be established in Saudi Arabia. He said Pakistan had nominated Lieutenant General (retired) Nauman Mahmood as the first secretary general of the Makkah Defence Alliance, describing him as a “very good and pious officer”.

The country’s top diplomat said that an emergency meeting under the Makkah agreement would be held next week to review the latest situation in Saudi Arabia, adding that the kingdom had faced 17 to 18 attacks.

“We are bound to defend Saudi Arabia,” Dar said, adding that the UN Charter also allowed such alliances to take action. He said NATO was also operating on a similar principle.

On the Strait of Hormuz, Dar said that there should be no fee or service charge for crossing the strategic waterway.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi both wanted the matter to end “somehow”, adding that all parties were seeking to maximise their gains.

Turning to Afghanistan, Dar said Pakistan had “good wishes” for the country but wanted Kabul to ensure its territory was not used against Pakistan.

“They have to show that action has been taken against the [banned] Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Balochistan Liberation Army and Fitna al-Hindustan,” he said.

Dar said the border with Afghanistan had been closed since October and Pakistan was aware that crops had been destroyed as a result.