Pakistan Says Makkah Defence Pact Expansion Not Yet Under Discussion

Pakistan said on Thursday that the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye is intended as a defensive security arrangement and that expanding its membership is not currently under consideration. Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan outlined the government's position during his first weekly media briefing after assuming the spokesperson's role.

Khan said the three participating countries are presently focused on strengthening the alliance's existing structure before considering whether other states might eventually join. He said officials from the signatory countries remain in frequent contact at different levels and any future decision on enlargement would require agreement among all three members. The pact, he explained, is designed to contribute to regional stability through deterrence and closer defence cooperation.

The clarification comes amid heightened security concerns in the Middle East following Houthi attacks on locations in Saudi Arabia. Pakistan strongly condemned strikes targeting civilian and economic sites in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran and reiterated its support for Saudi Arabia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and prosperity. Islamabad also maintained that dialogue and diplomatic engagement remain essential to achieving stability in Yemen and preventing a wider regional confrontation.

The briefing also addressed Pakistan's relationship with Afghanistan. Khan said there was no across-the-board decision to expel Afghan students from the country, explaining that students enrolled in valid academic programmes and holding valid visas could remain and complete their studies. On regional connectivity projects, including CASA-1000, he said progress depended significantly on addressing Pakistan's concerns over militant activity originating from Afghan territory.

Khan said improved security conditions could create space for broader economic cooperation, transit links and energy projects between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Islamabad continues to seek a peaceful and stable neighbouring state, he said, while maintaining that authorities in Kabul must act against groups accused of carrying out attacks inside Pakistan. More than one million foreign nationals covered by repatriation-related policies were still living in different parts of the country, according to figures discussed at the briefing.

Pakistan also raised concerns over developments involving India and Kashmir. The spokesperson criticised the demolition of Muslim places of worship in India and called for international attention to the issue. He reiterated Pakistan's position that Kashmir remains an internationally recognised dispute and said Islamabad would continue raising the situation in Indian-administered Kashmir and the case of Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik at international forums.

Addressing other diplomatic matters, Khan said 25 Pakistani prisoners had recently been released by India, while Pakistan had freed more than 400 Indian prisoners over the previous two years after completion of their sentences. He also rejected speculation surrounding UAE visa access for Pakistanis, saying annual work visas issued to Pakistani citizens significantly exceeded the number of people repatriated for overstays, employment-related problems or minor violations.

The spokesperson additionally confirmed that Pakistan is preparing to host the 14th South Asian Games from April 4 to April 11, 2027, with events planned across Islamabad, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The competition is expected to feature 28 sports and more than 6,000 athletes and officials. The government's immediate foreign-policy focus, however, remains on regional security consultations, the evolving Middle East crisis and consolidating existing defence cooperation before any discussion of expanding the Makkah framework.