News Desk
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, was a historic milestone for peace, unity, and stability in the region.
The prime minister said this in a meeting with Lieutenant General (retd) Nauman Mahmood, the first Secretary General to the General Secretariat of the alliance, pursuant to Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, who called on him here. He expressed his best wishes for Lt. General (retd) Nauman Mahmood on assuming his position.
The prime minister emphasized that under the Agreement, Pakistan stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Saudi Arabia for its sovereignty, defense, and regional security, and fully supported Saudi Arabia’s legitimate right to self-defense.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to protecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the Kingdom.
The Secretary General of the Makkah Defence Alliance briefed the prime minister on the strategy to promote defense and strategic cooperation under the framework of the Agreement. Separately, Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further deepen its friendly relations with Russian Federation and making effective use of existing bilateral mechanisms to advance mutually beneficial cooperation.
The prime minister received Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Kolokoltsev, who is currently on an official visit to Pakistan, a Prime Minister’s Office news release said.
PM Shehbaz Sharif expressed satisfaction over the positive momentum in Pakistan-Russia relations and emphasized the importance of building on this momentum to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. He underscored the need to expand cooperation across areas of mutual interest, particularly trade and investment, energy, and economic development.
The Russian Interior Minister conveyed Russia’s desire to further strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation in areas of shared interest. Appreciating Pakistan’s support at various multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations, he also highlighted the significant potential for expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Russia. He expressed his country’s readiness to work closely with Pakistan to further enhance bilateral engagement.