Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi has said Saudi Arabia’s security is extremely important to the Muslim world.
He said there was no reason for anyone to be concerned about the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
Ashrafi said the agreement should be viewed in a broader regional and economic context.
Pact Has Changed Regional Dynamics
Ashrafi said the impact of the defence agreement could already be seen in the region.
He claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is no longer using the slogan of a “Greater Israel.”
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Ashrafi linked this change to the deterrence created by the new defence arrangement.
His comments come as regional tensions remain high amid the continuing conflict involving Israel, Iran and other regional actors.
Saudi Arabia Gave Assurance to Iran
Ashrafi said Saudi Arabia had assured Iran that its territory would not be used against Tehran.
He said this approach was important for preventing the regional conflict from turning into a broader confrontation between Arab and Muslim countries.
Recent statements by Ashrafi have also emphasized the role of the Makkah pact in promoting regional peace and collective security.
Economic Strength Is Also Important
Ashrafi said the vision of Saudi King Salman was to strengthen the Muslim community economically.
He argued that the Makkah agreement should therefore not be viewed only as a military arrangement.
Instead, he said it should be considered within a wider framework of cooperation, security and economic development among Muslim countries.
More Countries Could Join
Ashrafi said other countries were also ready to become part of the agreement.
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. The pact provides a framework for collective defence cooperation among the three countries.
The three states have since moved toward establishing a permanent institutional structure for the agreement. They agreed to establish a secretariat in Saudi Arabia, initially headed by a Pakistani secretary-general for three years.
Ashrafi has previously called for the agreement to remain open to other Muslim countries.
He said wider participation could help strengthen unity, collective security and cooperation across the Muslim world.
