Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has defended the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA), arguing that it reflects Pakistan’s partnerships and is not aimed at any country. Speaking at the Margalla Dialogue in Islamabad on Tuesday, he called for dialogue and diplomacy as regional and global tensions grow.
Dar warned that intensifying competition among major powers was raising the risk of confrontation and miscalculation. He said the growing readiness to use military force was leaving less room for diplomatic engagement.
Dar defends the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the MJDA in August. Under its terms, an attack on any one of the three signatories will be treated as an attack on all of them.
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Dar described the pact as a symbol of Pakistan’s partnerships and stressed that it was not directed against any state. He said Pakistan wanted a peaceful, stable and economically integrated region, and that no country’s territory should be used for terrorist activity against another state.
“Pakistan is committed to the peaceful resolution of conflicts,” Dar said. He added that disputes must be resolved through negotiations if shared prosperity is to be achieved. He also said the international security framework was under severe strain and described multilateral diplomacy as an urgent necessity.
Partnerships and economic goals in foreign policy
Dar said Pakistan attaches importance to its ties with friendly countries and international partners. He named the following as important partners:
- China
- the United States
- Saudi Arabia
- Turkiye
- Japan
- Egypt
- the United Arab Emirates
- Malaysia
He described the strategic partnership with China as a fundamental pillar of Pakistan’s foreign policy. Islamabad, he said, wants to strengthen national security while keeping diplomatic channels open and pursuing development opportunities.
Dar said enhancing defence and technological capabilities, along with creating an environment that supports economic growth, were among the country’s priorities. The government, he added, is taking steps to boost business activity, create jobs and raise living standards. He also stressed strong institutions, a skilled workforce and a business-friendly climate as ways to attract investment.
Concerns over international law and global institutions
Dar said geopolitical rivalries were intensifying competition over trade, technology, energy and investment. In that environment, he argued, domestic strength and effective diplomacy were becoming more important for national security and public prosperity.
He warned that selective use of international law and uneven application of international principles were fuelling discrimination and weakening trust in the global system. “The selective application of international laws gives rise to discrimination,” he said, calling for a more effective role for international institutions, particularly the United Nations.
The deputy prime minister said the international order was going through major changes, and that political differences among states were making it harder for multilateral bodies to respond. He also noted that geopolitics, economic affairs and financial matters are increasingly linked, requiring closer cooperation.
Dar said emerging technologies offered new opportunities, while climate change remained a serious challenge that demands coordinated strategies. He argued that sustainable development was impossible without regional peace and stability, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to trade and connectivity across the region. Economic stability and sovereignty, he said, remain core priorities.
Pakistan’s mediation between Washington and Tehran
Since the US-Israel war with Iran began on February 28, Pakistan has become one of the most active intermediaries between Washington and Tehran. It has used its ties with both sides to keep diplomatic channels open.
Pakistan’s role became more visible in early April, when it helped put forward a two-stage proposal known as the Islamabad Accord. The first stage called for an immediate ceasefire, followed by broader negotiations covering Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions and the Strait of Hormuz. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif later said talks hosted in Islamabad included a 21-hour negotiating session involving the two sides.
These efforts eventually led to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding in June, signed by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, with Pakistan acting as mediator. The arrangement began to unravel within weeks, as fighting resumed and both sides accused each other of violations.
Pakistan has since continued shuttle diplomacy through Prime Minister Shehbaz, Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Field Marshal Asim Munir. Their repeated engagements, including visits to Tehran, have focused on reviving stalled negotiations, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and preventing further escalation in the region.
Closing his remarks, Dar described the Margalla Dialogue as a valuable forum for examining regional and global challenges. He stressed that open exchange of ideas and serious debate were needed to shape responses to changing international issues. “Collective efforts are indispensable for achieving peace, security and sustainable development across the world,” he said.
