Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for restraint and diplomacy amid escalating Middle East tensions on Friday, telling the United Nations General Assembly that the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye is not directed against any particular country.
In his address to the 81st session of the General Assembly in New York, the prime minister condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and urged that the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab remain open, describing both waterways as vital arteries of the global economy.
Makkah Pact ‘Not Directed Against Any Country’
PM Shehbaz said Pakistan’s commitment to peace was reflected in what he called the “historic Makkah Joint Defence Agreement” among the three countries, describing it as a collective commitment to defence, stability and peace in the region.
“This alliance is not directed against any country,” he said. “It is a collective commitment for defence, stability and peace in the region and nothing more.”
The agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on August 7 and provides for member states to treat an attack against one as an attack against all. Officials from the three countries have since begun work on establishing the agreement’s institutional structure, with Pakistan selected to head its secretariat in Riyadh.
Solidarity With Saudi Arabia
The prime minister strongly condemned what he described as “deplorable” attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia, saying the interception of a Yemeni drone over the holy city of Makkah had outraged Muslims around the world.
He expressed Pakistan’s complete solidarity with the Saudi people and reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to the kingdom’s security.
His remarks came as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye prepare for an urgent meeting of their chiefs of staff following the Houthi attacks. The meeting is expected to discuss ways of supporting Riyadh under the framework of the joint defence agreement.
The developments have also prompted senior officials from the three countries to discuss the institutionalisation of the pact and wider regional security issues. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met his Saudi and Turkish counterparts on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Friday.
Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab ‘Must Remain Open’
PM Shehbaz called for the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab to remain open, describing both waterways as arteries of the global economy.
“The Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab are arteries of the global economy. They must remain open, connecting nations, not becoming choke points of confrontation,” he said.
The prime minister said the waters should carry the promise of prosperity rather than the risks of war, while warning of the wider consequences of escalating hostilities involving missiles, drones and other weapons.
The United Nations has separately warned that instability around Bab al-Mandab and continuing disruptions around Hormuz could affect international trade, energy security, food supplies and economies well beyond the region.
Islamabad’s Diplomacy Between Washington and Tehran
PM Shehbaz also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts following the outbreak of the wider Middle East conflict, saying Islamabad had acted swiftly to bring the United States and Iran to the negotiating table.
He said Pakistan had brought Washington and Tehran “under one roof” in Islamabad and referred to the Islamabad Talks and subsequent Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding as steps towards ending the conflict.
The prime minister also acknowledged the efforts of Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar in creating space for diplomacy.
Earlier this week, PM Shehbaz met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. He said Pezeshkian had reaffirmed that the Islamabad MoU remained acceptable to Tehran and that Iran was ready to take the understanding forward.
The prime minister has also stressed that Pakistan and Iran, as neighbouring countries, should work together to reduce regional tensions, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
