Says emergency meeting under Makkah pact to be held next week; We are ‘bound’ to defend Saudi Arabia, notes UN Charter allows such alliances to take action; There should be no fee for crossing Strait of Hormuz
Deputy Prime Minister 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.
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 Lt-Genl (retd) 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.
“The full meeting of the Strategic Political Defence Committee will soon be held in Riyadh, and the current ground realities, particularly the situation in Saudi Arabia, will be examined under the Makkah Accord,” FM Dar stated.
“Whatever course of action is decided will be shared with the public when the meeting is finalised, and it will also be shared with you when the meeting is attended,” he further added.
“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 charges 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.
FM Dar highlighted Pakistan’s extensive diplomatic engagements during the high-level week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, adding that Pakistan’s delegation used the opportunity to raise key national and international issues and meet with world leaders.
