ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met President Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad on Friday and briefed him on the recently signed defence pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, according to the Presidency.

President Zardari expressed his best wishes for the effective implementation of the agreement. He said the pact could support defence cooperation, regional peace and stability, and security among Muslim countries.

The president also praised Prime Minister Shehbaz and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir for strengthening Pakistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.

The three countries signed the agreement in Makkah on August 7. The deal aims to strengthen collective deterrence. It also states that an attack on one member would be treated as an attack on all three.

Under the agreement, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye will establish political and military mechanisms. The three countries also plan to expand cooperation in the defence industry.

Prime Minister Shehbaz and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar have described the agreement as defensive in nature. Dar has also said that the pact remains open to other countries in the region that accept its core principles.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said Turkiye expects Egypt to join the agreement at a later stage. He said only a few technical matters remained before Egypt could potentially become part of the arrangement.

Egypt has not publicly commented on the proposal.

Kuwait, Bahrain and Somalia have welcomed the agreement. Iran has also responded positively, saying it supports regional security arrangements based on cooperation among countries in the region.

During Friday’s meeting, the Pakistani leadership also reviewed the performance of security forces and law enforcement agencies in counter-terrorism operations.

The Presidency said the participants appreciated the professional capabilities of security personnel during operations against groups the Pakistani state refers to as Fitna-al-Hindustan and Fitna al-Khawarij.

The participants reaffirmed their commitment to eliminating terrorism from Pakistan. They also discussed foreign policy and internal security matters.

President Zardari stressed the need for effective steps to provide relief to citizens amid the current regional situation.

He called for uninterrupted supplies of essential goods and reasonable prices for consumers.

The president also expressed hope that Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts would help promote peace in the region and beyond. He said stronger diplomatic engagement could improve Pakistan’s international standing and create positive effects for the economy.

The meeting comes as Pakistan seeks to deepen strategic cooperation with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye while responding to wider security challenges in the region.

The discussions also highlighted the government’s focus on maintaining domestic stability and protecting economic interests during a period of regional uncertainty.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior and Narcotics Control Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan and Senator Sherry Rehman also attended the meeting.