Muhammad Irfan Ullah | August 28, 2026
THE TRUE POST (Web News) — Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia are holding the first meeting of their trilateral Strategic Political and Defence Committee in Istanbul under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
Senior officials from all three countries are attending the meeting, which is expected to focus on defence cooperation, regional security and ways to strengthen strategic coordination.
High-Level Delegations Attend Meeting
Pakistan is being represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
Türkiye and Saudi Arabia are also represented by their foreign and defence ministers as well as chiefs of general staff.
Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir have already arrived in Türkiye to attend the meeting.
Defence and Security Cooperation on Agenda
The meeting is expected to focus on strengthening defence and security cooperation among Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia.
The three countries are also expected to discuss regional and global security developments, common security challenges and ways to improve coordination between their defence institutions.
The trilateral framework could provide a platform for more regular consultations on emerging security issues affecting the region.
Cooperation in Defence Industry
Defence industry cooperation is also expected to be an important part of the discussions.
The three countries are likely to explore opportunities for joint defence production, technology sharing and cooperation in advanced military technologies.
Such cooperation could help strengthen their respective defence capabilities while creating opportunities for joint projects and greater technological collaboration.
Ishaq Dar Meets Hakan Fidan
Before the trilateral meeting, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Istanbul.
During the meeting, the two sides expressed satisfaction over the continued strengthening and expansion of relations between Pakistan and Türkiye.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to continuing efforts aimed at promoting regional peace and stability.
Ishaq Dar Visits the Shrine of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari
After arriving in Istanbul, Ishaq Dar also visited the shrine of Hazrat Abu Ayyub al-Ansari.
He paid his respects at the historic shrine and offered prayers for peace, prosperity and development in Pakistan and for the people of the country.
He also prayed for unity within the Muslim world and greater cooperation and solidarity among Muslim countries.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Highlights Strategic Partnership
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has described Pakistan-Türkiye relations as a strategic partnership, saying that the relationship serves as an important foundation for shared prosperity and security.
The prime minister said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement further confirms the strategic brotherhood between Pakistan and Türkiye.
Stronger Cooperation with Saudi Arabia
Shehbaz Sharif said the defence agreement also brings Pakistan and Türkiye closer to Saudi Arabia.
According to the prime minister, closer defence and security cooperation among the three countries can contribute to strengthening collective security and defence capabilities.
He also emphasized that close relations between Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia can play an important role in promoting peace, stability and shared prosperity in the region.
Focus on a Joint Defence Strategy
The first trilateral committee meeting in Istanbul is being viewed as an important step toward institutionalizing defence cooperation between the three countries.
Along with defence and security issues, the meeting is expected to address changing global conditions and emerging challenges facing the region.
Regular consultations under the committee could provide the three countries with a structured mechanism for coordinating their strategic and security policies.
A New Phase of Trilateral Cooperation
The establishment of the trilateral committee under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement marks a new phase in defence relations between Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia.
The three countries are seeking to expand cooperation in areas including defence technology, joint production, military cooperation and regional security.
The Istanbul meeting could therefore become an important platform for developing a more coordinated and structured defence partnership among the three countries.
As regional security challenges continue to evolve, closer cooperation between Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia could become increasingly significant for maintaining stability and strengthening collective defence capabilities.
