OIC hails Makkah defence deal as PM returns

Over the weekend, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey signed a joint defence agreement treating an attack on any one of the three as an attack against all. Per Dawn, the pact was formalized during a summit in Makkah, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signing the accord. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described it as technically equivalent to NATO's Article Five mutual defense clause. Officials emphasized the agreement targets no specific country and remains open to friendly nations seeking to join—with Egypt mentioned as a potential future member.

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