Makkah Defense Pact is Not Against Anyone and Iranian President Still Accepts Islamabad Memorandum, Says Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
NEW YORK : Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that he had held positive bilateral discussions with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on regional security, Makkah Joint Defense Agreement and cross-border counter-terrorism cooperation.
In his meeting with the media after the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz said he made it clear to the Iranian President that the Makkah Defense Pact is a collective security pact and not a pact against any other country.
Iranian President restates his pledge to Islamabad Memorandum.
The Prime Minister also emphasized on the diplomatic process that has taken place so far, saying that President Pezeshkian has shown readiness to continue the diplomatic process initiated in Islamabad: “The Iran’s President has voiced his willingness to promote the diplomatic process initiated in Islamabad through the Islamabad Memorandum.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said that Pakistan’s status and diplomatic efforts have received a lot of appreciation. He, however, expressed grave concerns about maritime flashpoints and issues of border security;
Maritime Stability: The Prime Minister appealed to the brotherly and friendly countries to cooperate together in easing maritime tensions, pointing to the increase of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb.
Prime Minister Shehbaz strongly denounced the killing of police officers, military soldiers and innocent civilians in the country by the terrorists from Afghan soil and said that Pakistan was giving a crushing blow to the terrorists and would not keep holding back till the complete elimination of terrorism.