Summary The spokesperson condemned the demolition of an old mosque in Saharanpur on September 5, stressing that religious freedoms must be respected
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The Foreign Office said on Thursday that the Makkah Defence Alliance between Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia was defensive in nature, while any expansion of the grouping was not currently under consideration.
Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan, speaking at his weekly press briefing, said the pact was primarily aimed at ensuring regional security through deterrence.
He said Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia would first focus on strengthening their cooperation and consolidating the alliance before considering its expansion.
“Expansion is currently not on the cards,” spokesperson said, adding that the agreement could eventually be opened to countries sharing similar positions and perspectives.
He said the three member states were conducting consultations at various levels under the framework and would decide on expansion at a later stage.
“At this stage, there are no discussions regarding the expansion of the Makkah agreement,” the spokesperson said.
FO spokesperson said the agreement was already in effect and Pakistan would fulfil its responsibilities in accordance with its provisions. He added that Islamabad was maintaining defence cooperation with Saudi Arabia and that meetings related to the pact would be held in different member countries.
Details regarding future meetings would be shared as arrangements progressed, he said, adding that their exact dates had not yet been finalised.
During press briefing FO spokesperson also reiterated Pakistan’s position on the Kashmir dispute, saying it remained an unresolved issue on the United Nations agenda and India could not alter its disputed status through unilateral measures.
He expressed concern over the human rights situation in occupied Kashmir and particularly the health of Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik. Pakistan, he said, condemned Malik’s continued detention and legal proceedings and had urged international human rights organisations to assess his health condition.
The spokesperson also condemned the demolition of an old mosque in Saharanpur on September 5, stressing that religious freedoms must be respected.
The briefing also covered Pakistan’s recent diplomatic engagements with Kyrgyzstan, Egypt, Norway and Kuwait.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Kyrgyzstan reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to stronger bilateral ties, with several MoUs signed between the two sides.
Ishaq Dar held telephone conversations with the foreign ministers of Egypt and Norway, while Prime Minister Shehbaz spoke with Kuwait’s foreign minister. The officials agreed to continue consultations and hold meetings during the UN General Assembly session.
On Gaza, the FO spokesperson said Pakistan and other Muslim and Arab countries rejected proposals for the forced displacement of Palestinians and reiterated support for an independent Palestinian state.
Pakistan has also sent 100 tonnes of relief goods to flood-hit Nepal, while the country is scheduled to host the South Asian Games in April 2027.
The spokesperson said Pakistan was ready to cooperate with China under its Global Governance Initiative.
He also disclosed that the Anti-Narcotics Force had seized 200kg of narcotics at Karachi port after coordination with Sri Lankan authorities and broken up a major trafficking network allegedly headed by an Afghan national.diate expansion of Mecca defence
