Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on Friday signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, committing to strengthen collective security and deterrence against acts of aggression, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the agreement at the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence.

According to the Foreign Office statement, the agreement stipulates that “any armed attack against any one of the three States shall be regarded as an attack against them all.”

The pact is aimed at strengthening collective deterrence against any act of aggression and enhancing all aspects of defence cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.

The agreement also reflects the three countries’ shared commitment to further strengthening their collective security and promoting peace, security and stability in the region and beyond, the Foreign Office said.

The joint statement issued after the summit said the agreement was guided by the longstanding historical ties among the three states and their enduring bonds of brotherhood and Islamic solidarity.

It said the three countries, based on their shared strategic interests and longstanding defence cooperation, had agreed to enhance their collective security and promote peace, security and stability in the region and beyond.

Prime Minister Shehbaz arrived at Qasr Al-Safa in Makkah on Friday, where Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received him.

The two leaders held a separate bilateral meeting and discussed bilateral relations, economic cooperation, regional peace and matters of mutual interest.

Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also attended the meeting.

A high-level Pakistani delegation, led by PM Shehbaz, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The deputy governor of Makkah received the prime minister.

The Foreign Office had said a day earlier that Prime Minister Shehbaz’s visit was important for promoting peace, diplomatic cooperation and a coordinated strategy in the region.

The Foreign Office spokesperson said Pakistan was continuing its diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and promote peaceful resolution of conflicts.

Pakistan also hopes that progress towards consensus and a reconciliation framework on the Strait of Hormuz will help pave the way for negotiations between Iran and the United States, according to the Foreign Office.