PM tells UN Makkah pact not against any country
Shehbaz Sharif says the Saudi-Türkiye-Pakistan defence agreement is a collective commitment to regional stability and peace.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told the United Nations General Assembly on Friday that the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan is not directed against any country. He said the agreement, which he described as historic, is a collective commitment to defence, stability and peace in the region.
The prime minister made the remarks while addressing the General Assembly in New York, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan. He strongly condemned the recent attacks by the Houthis against Saudi Arabia, including an attempted drone attack on the holy city of Makkah Al-Mukarramah.
Sharif said the attempted drone attack on Makkah Al-Mukarramah "has outraged Muslims across the globe." He said any threat to the safety and sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain is a red line that must never be crossed.
"No Muslim can even dare to think of committing such a heinous act," the prime minister added. "Pakistan stands in complete solidarity with the brotherly people of Saudi Arabia, as we always have throughout our history."
The prime minister did not name any country the agreement could be seen as targeting. He repeated that the pact was defensive and intended only to maintain peace and stability in the region. The address was delivered at the United Nations headquarters in New York on 25 September.
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