Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir were in Türkiye to attend the first meeting of a key committee formed under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA).The inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, established under the MJDA, will be held in Istanbul today Monday, the foreign ministries of Pakistan and Türkiye confirmed in separate statements.

Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia signed the MJDA in Makkah earlier this month. The pact stipulates that an attack on one country will be considered an attack against all three, as regional tensions surge amid the United States (US) and Iran war.“Pakistan will be represented at the meeting by Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif and the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defenfe Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir,” the Foreign Ministry said.

The meeting will also be attended by foreign and defence ministers, as well as chiefs of general staff of Türkiye and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it added.  “Pakistan’s participation in the meeting signifies Islamabad’s historic bonds of friendship with the brotherly countries of Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, as well as its desire for lasting regional peace and stability,” the Foreign Ministry said. Pakistan’s state media and the military’s media wing issued statements earlier announcing Dar and Munir had arrived in Türkiye.

Dar met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Pakistani foreign ministry said, to review bilateral ties and discuss cooperation in the political, economic, security and cultural domains. According to Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency, the Strategic Political and Defence Committee was envisaged to provide strategic direction for activities to be carried out under the trilateral pact. “The meeting is expected to address international security issues, as well as efforts to develop defence capabilities and promote greater interoperability among the armed forces of the three countries,” Anadolu news agency reported.

 It said the three states are also expected to discuss deepening defence industry cooperation, including joint production and research and development, as well as strengthening joint counterterrorism efforts. Pakistan has repeatedly clarified that the trilateral pact is defensive in nature and not against any country. It has also said that other states can also join the pact provided they are willing to uphold its fundamental principles.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)