DPM Dar, CDF Munir attend defence pact meeting with Turkiye, Saudi Arabia leaderships

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar attended the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Istanbul on Monday, the Foreign Office stated.

The high-level Pakistani delegation accompanying the deputy prime minister included Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.

During the inaugural session, the Pakistani leadership joined their respective counterparts from Türkiye and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to discuss trilateral strategic cooperation, regional security, and defence alignment under the framework of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.

“Alhamdolillah, a great inaugural meeting today of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey in Istanbul after signing of “Makkah Joint Defence Agreement” on 7th August 2026 in Makkah Mukaramma,” Dar wrote in a post on his personal X account, adding it was a great to meet dear brothers in Istanbul.

Pakistan’s participation in the meeting signifies Pakistan’s historic bonds of friendship with the brotherly countries of Turkiÿe and Saudi Arabia, as well as its desire for lasting regional peace and stability.

After concluding the today’s engagements in Istanbul, including a bilateral meeting with the foreign minister of Türkiye, DPM Dar left for Bishkek alongside Turkish FM Fidan and Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler.

The DPM/FM will join Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistani delegation for the SCO Council of Heads of State Meeting and the SCO Plus Summit in Kyrgyzstan.

He will accompany the prime minister during his engagements in Bishkek, including bilateral discussions with President Sadyr Zhaparov on September 2 on Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relations and ways to further strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

The prime minister’s official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic is from Monday to Wednesday, during which Pakistan will assume the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026–27.

Pakistan, Türkiye agree to enhance defence cooperation

Earlier, Defence Minister Asif and Minister of National Defence of Türkiye Yasar Güler on Monday held a meeting in Istanbul, wherein they agreed to enhance joint defence cooperation in the region, state media Radio Pakistan reported.

Chief of the General Staff of Turkish Armed Forces, General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, also attended the meeting.

Separately, Güler and Bayraktaroğlu held a meeting with CDF Munir as well, Türkiye Ministry of National Defence shared on its X account.