Mecca: The Mecca joint defense pact signed by Trkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan earlier this month "has sent a message of unity and peace throughout the region," Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Friday. Sharif made the remarks during a meeting with Saudi Arabia's Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley.

According to Anadolu Agency, the agreement, known as the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, was signed at a trilateral summit in Mecca on August 7. The pact aims to strengthen collective security, deepen defense cooperation, and promote peace and stability in the region and beyond. The agreement was signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Sharif during the summit held at Al-Safa Palace.

Sharif emphasized that the joint defense pact has brought the three countries closer, sending a message of unity and peace throughout the region. The agreement marks a significant step towards fostering regional cooperation and stability.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh has expressed a positive stance towards joining the pact, should an invitation be extended by the founding members. Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman indicated that if invited, the country would consider joining the pact positively.

In response to Bangladesh's statements, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi reiterated that the agreement is a defensive framework aimed at safeguarding peace and promoting regional stability. Andrabi stated that the agreement remains open to countries that share its commitments to collective obligations and common security interests. Any formal request for joining the pact would be considered in consultation with partners in Riyadh and Ankara. However, the operationalization of the agreement is still in its early stages.