Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday affirmed that the recently signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was “entirely for defensive purposes”, and not for any aggression.

The joint defence agreement, signed on August 7 between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, aims to strengthen collective deterrence and empowers its signatory states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them.

Addressing the federal cabinet on Monday, PM Shehbaz recalled that he, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the pact in Makkah on Friday.

The prime minister stressed that the objective of the pact is to “promote peace, progress, and prosperity in the region”.

“Its purpose is definitely not that any aggression occurs. It is entirely for defensive purposes, for peace, tranquillity and progress in the region,” he affirmed.

“I believe this agreement is a source of strength not just among these three countries, but for the entire Muslim ummah,” he noted.

PM Shehbaz particularly felicitated Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as well as Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir on the signing of the agreement.

Efforts for the joint defence pact had been underway for “many years and materialised this Friday”, the prime minister said.

He noted that while Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had already entered the “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement” in September 2025, Islamabad and Ankara also had “arrangements for decades” between them.

PM Shehbaz recalled that the Pakistani nation and the army had been honoured to “defend the world’s holiest places” of Makkah and Madina for years along with the Saudi forces.

“Last year, with Allah’s grace, this arrangement was officially recognised so that a proper agreement was signed. Friday’s agreement is another extension of it, with a trilateral agreement signed.”

In a statement issued by the Foreign Office earlier in the day, Dar felicitated the nation on the agreement’s signing. He reiterated his comments from Sunday wherein he said the pact was defensive in nature and not directed against any country.

Dar also noted that the term of treating an attack on one of them as an attack against all three was “consistent with the inherent right of individual and collective self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter”.

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement has been hailed by the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as an “important strategic step”.

Kuwait, Bahrain and Somalia are among the countries that have welcomed it. Iran’s comments also took a rather positive tone, stressing its stance of pursuing “security mechanisms based on cooperation between regional countries”.

‘Once in power, AJK govt will offer dialogue to those willing’

Speaking on Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), PM Shehbaz favoured dialogue with protesters who have been at odds with the authorities over the 12 seats reserved for refugees and other issues, leading to a tense situation in the region for the past two months.

He said that once the new government comes to power in AJK — with PML-N already claiming a two-thirds majority — the matter of continuing talks with the protesters “will progress”.

The prime minister declared that those “who only want to cause anarchy will not be allowed to do so, but those who want to peacefully and patiently discuss the situation, the new government will provide a chance for that”.

“In any respected society, no permission can be given for lawlessness. If there is any demand or any matters, they should be resolved through talks at a table,” he said.

PM Shehbaz went on to say that the government had “clear evidence that those who purposefully worsened the situation there were working on the directives of the enemy”.

He recalled that despite that, the government had held a multi-party conference in Muzaffarabad before the elections, with only one political party being absent — apparently referring to the PTI which has boycotted the polls.

“Every aspect was discussed there, and […] those who wanted refugee seats to be changed, reduced or abolished were advised to let the elections go on as planned and bring forward their case in the new assembly,” he said, adding that this would resolve the matter as per the constitution of AJK.

“All matters were settled, but they remained adamant on this and needlessly insisted, which unfortunately worsened the situation,” the prime minister said.

Speaking about the ongoing elections in AJK, PM Shehbaz asserted that Kashmiris have “overwhelmingly voted” for his PML-N.

The PML-N has so far bagged 24 seats out of a total 45 — nine from Mirpur polls held on July 27 and 15 in the second phase comprising Muzaffarabad Division and the 12 refugee seats. The third phase of elections in Poonch Division began today.

The prime minister noted that based on the results from Mirpur and Muzaffarabad divisions, along with the seats reserved for refugees from India-held Kashmir, the PML-N has “almost established a majority”.

“This vote is a vote of trust in Mian Nawaz Sharif and for his leadership. I am hopeful that once we set up a government there, under his leadership, AJK will once again set out on the journey to progress and prosperity,” he said, thanking those who voted for his party.

‘Terrorists being annihilated day and night’

At the federal cabinet meeting, PM Shehbaz also touched upon the issue of terrorism in the country and mentioned the lives lost in recent terrorist attacks.

He noted that terrorists escalated their activities in “some areas of Pakistan in the past few days”.

The premier recalled the August 2 Swat suicide bombing that claimed 17 lives and the martyrdom of Deputy Superintendent of Police Diyar Khan in an attack on a Hangu police checkpost.

He paid tribute to the sacrifices of the personnel, including Captain Hamza Akram and Major Hafiz Ihsan Elahi, who were martyred during operations in Hangu and North Waziristan, respectively.

The prime minister affirmed that “Fitna Al Khawarij are being annihilated day and night”, referring to terrorists affiliated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

“These sacrifices will not go in vain and will bear fruition. One day will come when Pakistan will once again be free from terrorism and will move rapidly towards peace and progress,” PM Shehbaz said.

The prime minister also expressed his condolences over the death of PML-N MNA Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar, describing him as a “longtime friend”.

“He was a person who was a supporter in bad times,” he said, adding that he and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif knew Channar since 1985. The cabinet also prayed for the elevated ranks of the martyrs and Channar.