Turkiye says Makkah pact has strengthened solidarity with Pakistan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that the Makkah pact had strengthened “solidarity” with Pakistan during a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement at a trilateral summit in Makkah on August 7, pledging to strengthen collective security, deepen defence cooperation and promote peace and stability in the region and beyond. The Turkish parliament on November 5 approved a bill ratifying the Makkah Agreement on Joint Defence between Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, clearing the way for the trilateral security pact to take effect.

PM Shehbaz attended the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP31 Leaders Summit in Antalya today, where he met world leaders on the event’s sidelines as well.

In a statement on X, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) stated that President Erdogan appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role and mediation efforts, which led to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

Erdogan stated that the two countries would also continue to jointly contribute to efforts to end the conflict in Iran, adding that Turkiye was ready to do everything possible through peaceful means to help address the challenges Pakistan faced in its region.

The statement said that PM Shehbaz highlighted the ongoing efforts by regional countries, particularly members of the Makkah pact, to promote de-escalation and dialogue, as he thanked President Erdogan for his steadfast support and close coordination throughout Pakistan’s entire diplomatic effort.

Both leaders underscored the importance of adherence by all parties to their commitments under the Islamabad MoU to ensure “durable and lasting peace” in the wider region, the PMO stated.

The PMO added: “The two leaders reaffirmed the deep-rooted, historic, and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Turkiye, and expressed satisfaction at the positive trajectory of bilateral relations. The prime minister and the President held wide-ranging discussions on avenues to further enhance bilateral cooperation, with particular focus on trade and investment, defence collaboration, energy cooperation, and connectivity.”

It further said that both leaders emphasised the importance of expediting the implementation of ongoing initiatives and exploring new opportunities to further deepen economic engagement while also exchanging views on the “evolving regional situation” and broader global developments.

The PMO added that both leaders reaffirmed their mutual support on matters of core national interest, underscoring the longstanding trust and solidarity between the two countries while also reiterating their commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership, building on their fraternal ties and shared vision for peace and prosperity.

PM Shehbaz and Finnish president agree to strengthen cooperation

PM Shehbaz also met Finnish President Alexander Stubb and both agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade, technology, education and climate resilience.

In a post on X, the prime minister said, “We agreed to build a forward-looking Pakistan-Finland partnership in trade, technology, education and climate resilience.”

He also highlighted Finland’s expertise in flood forecasting and early warning systems, saying Pakistan valued its experience in these areas.

The prime minister said he had thanked President Stubb for appreciating Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue between Iran and the United States, and expressed his desire to welcome him to Pakistan.

“I thanked him for appreciating Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue between Iran and the US, and look forward to welcoming him to Pakistan,” he added.

PM Shehbaz reaffirms solidarity with Sudan

The prime minister met Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council President General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

In a post on X, PM Shehbaz said, “I reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and conveyed our heartfelt solidarity with the brotherly people of Sudan as they face these challenging times.”

The two leaders also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest, and “agreed that climate change requires urgent, collective global action, especially in support of developing nations, which bear its most serious consequences.”

Meeting with Iraq’s President

As part of his diplomatic engagements, the premier also met Iraq President Nizar Mohammed Saeed Amidi.

In a post on X, the PMO said that the prime minister congratulated President Amidi on the successful conduct of parliamentary elections and the formation of the new Government, reaffirming Pakistan’s steadfast support for Iraq’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, national unity and stability.

The PMO added: “The two leaders reaffirmed the longstanding brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iraq, rooted in shared faith, historical bonds and strong people-to-people contacts. Expressing satisfaction over the positive momentum in bilateral relations, they underscored the importance of sustained high-level exchanges and institutional engagement. The prime minister also extended an invitation to President Amidi to visit Pakistan at a mutually convenient time.”

According to the statement, the two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation, with particular focus on trade, investment, manpower, reconstruction, agriculture, and defence.

“The prime minister appreciated Iraq’s facilitation for Pakistani Zaireen,” it added.

The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and international developments and reaffirmed their commitment to close coordination at multilateral fora, the PMO statement concluded.