Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye defence agreement to strengthen entire Muslim world: Tahir Ashrafi

ISLAMABAD, Aug 8 (APP): Secretary General of the International Tazeem-e-Haramain Sharifain Council and Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, has welcomed the recently concluded Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-Türkiye defence agreement, describing it as a historic development that would not only strengthen the three countries but also contribute significantly to the unity, stability and collective security of the Muslim world.

In a statement, Ashrafi expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for a landmark achievement under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. He congratulated the leadership and people of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on the agreement, calling it a milestone for the future of the Muslim Ummah.

He said the defence pact transcends sectarian, ethnic and political divisions and is founded on the objective of strengthening the collective defence, security and stability of the participating countries. He emphasized that the agreement should not be viewed through the prism of sectarianism or regional rivalries, stating that any attempt to politicize or misrepresent its purpose would be a disservice to the broader interests of the Muslim world.

Ashrafi said the Two Holy Mosques remain the spiritual centre of unity for Muslims worldwide, adding that Pakistan’s strategic defence capabilities, Saudi Arabia’s leadership of the Islamic world, and Turkiye’s advanced defence technology together create a strong foundation for greater cooperation among Muslim nations.

Expressing optimism about the future, he said he hoped additional Islamic countries would eventually join the initiative, transforming it into a broader framework for collective security, economic cooperation and regional stability.

He observed that senior leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Pakistan’s leadership and the respective foreign ministries, had consistently clarified that the agreement’s primary objective is to strengthen mutual defence cooperation, security coordination and strategic collaboration among the three countries. He added that under the agreement, any attack on one member would be regarded as an attack on all.

Ashrafi also praised Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic leadership during recent regional tensions, stating that Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in close coordination with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, played a pivotal role in preventing the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran from escalating into a wider confrontation between the Arab and Islamic world and Iran.

He further acknowledged the constructive role played by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and several other friendly Islamic countries in supporting diplomatic efforts for preventing regional escalation and preserving peace.

Looking ahead, Ashrafi expressed hope that the defence partnership would expand beyond military cooperation to include economic collaboration and coordinated efforts to counter extremism, terrorism and violent movements that seek to destabilize Muslim societies from within.

He said a unified and comprehensive strategy among Muslim countries would help address common security challenges while promoting peace, development and prosperity across the Islamic world.

Concluding his statement, Ashrafi, on behalf of the International Tazeem-e-Haramain Sharifain Council and its eminent scholars and religious leaders from across the Muslim world, congratulated the governments and peoples of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on a landmark agreement for the future of the Muslim Ummah.