Defence accord draws cross-party praise

Bilawal, Fazl call pact 'historic', JI seeks wider alliance

ISLAMABAD:

The political leadership on Saturday rallied behind the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement as they welcomed the trilateral pact and urged other Islamic states to join the emerging framework.

The endorsement came as PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari hailed the accord as a milestone in Pakistan's history, while Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman called it a step towards greater unity in the Muslim world and urged other Islamic countries to join the arrangement.

Similarly, Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman welcomed the pact and called for the inclusion of Qatar, Bangladesh, Iran, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Bilawal said the agreement would strengthen Pakistan's defence capabilities while contributing to a stable and secure future for the three signatories and promoting regional and global peace.

He specifically praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir for their role in making the agreement possible.

"The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement is a significant milestone in the country's history; it is a historic development that will further strengthen our defence capabilities," Bilawal wrote on X.

He said the agreement was more than a bilateral or trilateral security arrangement.

"The role of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir in making this agreement possible is commendable," he said.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman welcomed the agreement as a major development towards greater unity in the Muslim world, saying it could become a strong pillar of collective security among Islamic countries.

Fazl said the creation of a joint defence capability among Muslim countries had long been an aspiration of his party and urged other Islamic states to become part of the Pakistan-Saudi-Turkiye security arrangement.

He said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had considerable potential to provide leadership to the Muslim Ummah, while the trilateral pact reflected JUI-F's manifesto and political outlook.

He noted that the establishment of an Islamic bloc had been part of his party's programme since its inception.

According to Fazl, the agreement would further strengthen the fraternal ties between the three countries and could develop into a strong pillar of collective security.

JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman also welcomed the trilateral defence agreement, saying it would help reduce Pakistan's dependence on its adversaries.

He called for Qatar, Bangladesh, Iran, Malaysia and Indonesia to be included in the defence arrangement.

Hafiz Naeem said that bringing all Muslim countries into the agreement could ultimately lead to the formation of a strong bloc.