NEW YORK: Foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye held a meeting under the framework of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to review progress on institutionalising the trilateral defence agreement.
According to Ishaq Dar, the ministers reviewed progress towards establishing the institutional structures under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and exchanged views on regional and international security issues.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in Makkah on August 7, 2026. Under the agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three countries is to be regarded as an attack against all three.
The first Strategic Political and Defence Committee meeting under the agreement was held in Istanbul on August 31, where the three countries moved to establish institutional mechanisms for implementing the accord. Pakistan was selected to head the agreement’s permanent secretariat in Saudi Arabia.
The latest meeting in New York comes amid heightened regional security concerns, including recent Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have previously reaffirmed their commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of the Kingdom.
The foreign ministers also agreed to maintain coordination on regional and international security matters as the three countries continue work on implementing the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.