Islamabad, Sept. 7 (SANA) Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar held separate phone calls with his Saudi and Turkish counterparts on Sunday to discuss strengthening cooperation under the Mecca Mutual Defense Agreement, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said.
Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan exchanged views on regional and international developments and issues of common interest in multilateral forums, the ministry said in a statement.
The two ministers also discussed follow-up steps to understandings reached at the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee of the Mecca Defense Alliance in Istanbul and agreed to remain in close contact.
In a separate call, Dar and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed ways to deepen cooperation under the defense alliance, as well as issues of mutual interest and coordination in international forums.
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan agreed on Aug. 31 to establish a secretariat to coordinate the three countries’ work under the agreement. A Pakistani secretary-general will head the body for an initial three-year term.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the mutual defense agreement in Mecca on Aug. 7. The pact is aimed at strengthening collective deterrence against an attack on any of the three countries.
R.D/ABD
