Makkah pact hailed as boost for regional peace and collective security

The views were expressed during a panel discussion titled “Makkah Pact: Peace, Security and Stability,” organised by the Press Information Department (PID) Lahore.

LAHORE: Senior journalists, defence analysts and experts have described the Makkah Joint Defence Pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye as a significant step towards strengthening regional peace, collective security and strategic cooperation.

The views were expressed during a panel discussion titled “Makkah Pact: Peace, Security and Stability,” organised by the Press Information Department (PID) Lahore.

PID Lahore Director General Shafqat Abbas said the agreement was not directed against any particular country but was intended to strengthen peace, stability, mutual confidence and collective security. He stressed that dialogue, diplomacy and cooperation should remain the preferred means of resolving regional disputes.

He said Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye brought different strengths and experiences to the partnership, creating opportunities for closer cooperation in defence, diplomacy, economics and strategic affairs. According to him, modern national power extended beyond military strength and depended equally on a strong economy, quality education, scientific advancement, technology, skilled human resources and effective diplomacy.

Shafqat Abbas called for greater efforts to convert Pakistan’s defence capabilities and achievements into economic opportunities through investment in education, research, technology, skills development and exports. He said a combination of strong defence and economic stability could enable Pakistan to play a more influential role internationally.

Senior journalist and analyst Mujeebur Rehman Shami highlighted Pakistan’s achievements in defence, diplomacy and foreign relations since independence. He praised Pakistani diplomats for enhancing the country’s international standing despite limited resources and stressed the urgent need to improve education, technical skills, research and scientific development.

He also called for higher exports, improved productivity and stronger economic policies, saying that Pakistan’s defence successes should ultimately contribute to broader economic progress.

Senior journalist Salman Ghani said the pact combined the unique strengths of its three members, describing Pakistan as a country with significant defence capabilities, Saudi Arabia as a major economic power and Türkiye as an important player in defence technology and military production. He said the partnership could open new avenues for investment, economic cooperation and regional stability.

Defence analyst Colonel (retd) Abid said Pakistan’s political and military leadership had played an important role in developing the agreement. He noted that the pact carried implications beyond defence and could influence regional diplomacy, economic relations and strategic cooperation.

Former Vice Chancellor of Home Economics University Dr Faleha Afzal said the agreement had further demonstrated Pakistan’s potential role in promoting peace and stability and expressed hope that other Muslim countries would eventually participate in similar cooperative initiatives.

Columnist Malik Salman stressed the importance of mutual trust and collective security among Muslim countries, while urging Pakistan to maintain a balance between defence preparedness and economic development.

Government College University Lahore Urdu literature professor Dr Farzana Riaz said the pact could create new opportunities for unity and cooperation among Muslim countries and encourage joint efforts to address shared regional challenges.

Journalist Noorullah said the agreement could contribute to greater peace and stability in the region, but stressed the need for a comprehensive strategy to convert Pakistan’s strategic and defence strengths into tangible economic and diplomatic gains.

The participants agreed that closer cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye could have wider implications for regional peace, defence coordination, diplomacy and economic development. They called on Muslim countries to overcome differences, focus on common interests and pursue peace, development and collective security through dialogue and coordinated efforts.

Concluding the session, Shafqat Abbas thanked the participants and said discussions of this nature were important for increasing public understanding of major national and international developments and encouraging informed debate.