The first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee, established under the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, will be held in Istanbul on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Pakistan will be represented at the meeting by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, and Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
The foreign and defense ministers, as well as the chiefs of general staff of Turkey and Saudi Arabia, will also attend the meeting.
The Foreign Ministry said Pakistan’s participation reflects its long-standing friendship with Turkey and Saudi Arabia and its commitment to lasting peace and stability in the region.
Earlier, the Inter-Services Public Relations said Syed Field Marshal Asim Munir had arrived in Turkey on an official visit.
Ishaq Dar has already arrived in Istanbul for the meeting and other official engagements after completing his visit to the United Kingdom.
Makkah Joint Defense Agreement
The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement was signed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defense at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah.
The agreement aims to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression. Under the pact, an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be considered an attack on all three.
The importance of the agreement is reflected in the fact that several other countries have also expressed interest in joining it. Two days after the agreement was signed, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Egypt was among the countries that could potentially join the pact. He added that President Erdogan wanted the alliance to expand.
Bangladesh also expressed its willingness to join the agreement. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman told parliament that the country would “positively” consider an invitation from the founding members of the Makkah pact to join the alliance.
