FM Dar follows up on Makkah Defence commitments with Saudi, Turkish FMs
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday held separate telephone conversations with his Saudi and Turkish counterparts, Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Hakan Fidan, to follow up on commitments reached under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said.
According to a post on X, Dar held a telephone conversation with the Saudi foreign minister, during which the two “exchanged views on regional and international developments, including matters of mutual interest at multilateral fora”.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 held a telephonic conversation today with Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan @FaisalbinFarhan.
The two Foreign Ministers exchanged views on regional and… pic.twitter.com/iSEp2XuaoU
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 6, 2026
They also discussed “follow-up on the understandings reached” at the inaugural meeting of the committee and agreed to “remain in close contact”, MoFA said.
Later, FM Dar also spoke with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan and discussed “follow-up on the understandings reached” at the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Istanbul, while exploring ways to “further advance cooperation of the Makkah Defence Alliance.”
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 spoke today with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Türkiye H.E. Hakan Fidan @HakanFidan.
DPM/FM thanked FM Hakan for hosting the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee… pic.twitter.com/D0obxGMA47
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 6, 2026
According to MoFA, FM Dar thanked Fidan for hosting the inaugural meeting, and the two foreign ministers discussed ways to “further advance cooperation” under the Makkah Defence Alliance.
The statement said that “the two Foreign Ministers also exchanged views on regional and international developments. They also discussed matters of mutual interest and opportunities to further strengthen cooperation at multilateral fora.”
The two ministers agreed to “remain in close contact”, the Foreign Office said.
On August 7, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye formalised their longstanding strategic relationship through the newly signed “Makkah Joint Defence Agreement”, a trilateral security framework that its proponents describe as a defensive arrangement aimed at strengthening collective deterrence, enhancing military cooperation and promoting regional stability.
At the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee under the Makkah Agreement in Istanbul on August 31, Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia agreed to further institutionalise their cooperation, including through a Secretariat in Saudi Arabia.
They also committed to strengthening defence capabilities and cooperation, including joint technology development and production, while supporting regional peace, stability and de-escalation.
Dar extends condolences to Norwegian FM
Earlier, Dar conveyed Pakistan’s condolences to Norway following the death of King Harald V, during a telephone conversation with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.
According to MoFA, FM Dar, “conveyed heartfelt condolences, on behalf of the President, Prime Minister, Field Marshal, himself, and the people of Pakistan, on the passing of HM King Harald V, and conveyed Pakistan’s sympathies to the Royal Family and the people of Norway.”
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 spoke with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide @EspenBarthEide.
DPM/FM conveyed heartfelt condolences, on behalf of the President, Prime Minister, Field Marshal, himself, and the people of… pic.twitter.com/KlOeaM7wST
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 6, 2026
He told his Norwegian counterpart that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had nominated Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan to represent Pakistan at the funeral procession in Oslo on September 9.
“The two Foreign Ministers also agreed to remain in close contact and look forward to meeting on the sidelines of UNGA,” the statement concluded.
Dar speaks to Egyptian counterpart
Later, FM Dar spoke with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty, with the two foreign ministers discussing Pakistan-Egypt bilateral relations and exchanging views on regional and international developments.
The Egyptian foreign minister also invited Dar to undertake a bilateral visit to Egypt at his earliest convenience.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
The two Foreign Ministers discussed Pakistan-Egypt bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and international developments. FM Badr also… pic.twitter.com/lU4QLdhVk1
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 6, 2026
“The two Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties,” the Foreign Office said, adding that they had agreed to “remain engaged and involved on regional security matters”.
The two ministers also agreed to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Norway’s King Harald dies
Norway’s King Harald, a reformer who emerged from the shadow of his well-loved, extrovert father over more than three decades on the throne, died on August 28 at the age of 89, the royal palace said, at a time of multiple crises for the Norwegian royal family.
“King Harald passed away peacefully at Oslo University Hospital on Friday 28 August, 0635 (local time, 0435 GMT),” the royal palace said on its website.
Harald, who was Europe’s oldest living monarch, was taken to hospital on August 17. The palace said he was being treated for a bacterial infection in his blood.
In 2024, he had been hospitalised for an infection while on holiday in Malaysia and received a temporary pacemaker at a hospital there. He was flown back home by the Norwegian armed forces and later fitted with a permanent device.
That same year, Harald, Norway’s ceremonial head of state since 1991, said he would reduce the number of official engagements in which he took part but ruled out abdication, insisting that his oath as king was for life.Read More