Meeting of Makkah defence pact in Saudi Arabia next week to focus on Houthi attacks: FM Dar

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday that an emergency meeting of the strategic political and defence committee under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA) between Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia would be held next week in Riyadh to discuss the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.

On August 7, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye formalised their longstanding strategic relationship through the newly signed MJDA, a trilateral security framework that its proponents describe as a defensive arrangement aimed at strengthening collective deterrence, enhancing military cooperation and promoting regional stability.

In a press briefing, FM Dar highlighted Pakistan’s extensive diplomatic engagements during the high-level week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He also underlined that the platform provided an opportunity for Pakistan’s delegation to engage global leaders, participate in international forums and conduct bilateral diplomacy from September 21 to 25.

“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.

Read: Makkah pact military chiefs condemn attacks on holy city at Riyadh meeting

“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.

In response to a question, FM Dar underlined that at “least six countries” had expressed interest in joining the MJDA while stating that he would not provide further details. 

While responding to another question, FM Dar stated that the strategic political defence committee would meet again after “the end of October or beginning of November”, when its work was expected to be completed.

Dar said that Pakistan had condemned the attack on a power plant in Medina, further adding that it was “not acceptable”, and stated that he had held detailed discussions with Iran over the Houthi attacks and reminded Tehran of Pakistan’s obligations under the trilateral agreement. Iran, he added, denied having any links “both with the Houthis and the Iraqi militia.”

PM Shehbaz’s UNGA address

While providing details of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address to the UNGA, FM Dar said that the premier reiterated Pakistan’s “longstanding position” on Palestine and presented Pakistan’s stance on Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the context of the 2025 conflict with India and the issue of cross-border terrorism.

FM Dar noted that the PM underlined that Pakistan had played a “crucial role” in bringing the US and Iran to the negotiating table after 47 years, with talks held in Istanbul on April 10 and 11. The negotiations comprised six sessions spread over 21 hours, followed by an agreement signed on June 18.

According to FM Dar, the PM also highlighted the impact of developments around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab, particularly their effect on fuel prices, further noting that the government had approved domestic relief measures despite financial constraints and the IMF programme. “Despite all the financial constraints and the IMF programme, the relief that we could provide was approved by the Prime Minister”.

FM Dar added that PM Shehbaz also briefed the international community about the “losses suffered” by Pakistan due to terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, in addition to highlighting Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts concerning the US-Iran conflict and developments involving Saudi Arabia.

Describing the PM’s UNGA address as a comprehensive presentation of Pakistan’s diplomatic stance, FM Dar emphasised that it received repeated rounds of applause during the session. “I believe it was a very successful speech. Those who watched it live would have seen that I probably have not seen a speech by a head of state in which there was applause so many times”.

Pakistan’s role at UN Security Council

FM Dar also stated that Pakistan had completed its two-year term as an elected member of the UN Security Council on September 30, adding that Pakistan held the council’s presidency during the period. “Pakistan played its role over the past two years in promoting multilateralism. I believe the international recognition of this role was reflected in the fact that, after 12 years, the resolution we presented on multilateralism and the peaceful settlement of disputes was unanimously adopted by the UN Security Council.”

PM’s bilateral meetings, invitation to UN secretary general

FM Dar stated that the premier held several high-level bilateral meetings during the UNGA week, including with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who accepted Pakistan’s invitation to visit the country before the end of his tenure on December 31. “We have invited him to Pakistan, and the UN secretary general has accepted”.

According to the foreign minister, the premier met the prime minister of Kuwait, the president of Kenya, the chairman of the presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the president of Iran, the president of Syria, the prime minister of Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman and the prime minister of Lebanon.

“A Pakistani delegation led by the Prime Minister held meetings with the presidents of both the European Commission and the European Council. A detailed meeting was also held with the Managing Director of the IMF,” he added.

Multilateral engagements

Dar further stated that he represented Pakistan at meetings of the OIC contact groups on Jammu and Kashmir and Afghanistan, and also participated in consultations involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt under the MJDA. “On 25 September in Riyadh, under the Makkah Accord, there was a meeting of the three permanent strategic political defence committees”.

Read More: Makkah pact enters crucial phase: Asif

FM Dar informed that the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye met in New York on September 24, followed by a meeting of the three countries’ army chiefs in Riyadh on September 25.

Dar noted that Pakistan, as chair of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers, would host its meeting in November. “We are the chairman of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers. The SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting will therefore be held in Pakistan in November”.

At a high-level meeting on the Middle East’s two-state solution chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron, FM Dar reiterated Pakistan’s support for a Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. “Pakistan’s position is that the solution in the Middle East is a two-state solution and that a Palestinian state should be established based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital”.