7. Suudi Arabistan kralı
Dar says Makkah defence pact committee to meet next week on Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday that a meeting of Makkah Defence Alliance’s Strategic Political Defence Committee (SPDC) would take place in Riyadh next week, adding that it would focus on Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia The deputy premier was addressing a press briefing regarding the Pakistan delegation’s engagements at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York in September, as well as high-level meetings that took place on its sidelines. “We made a plan because all three of us countries were present (in New York),” Dar said, referring to himself, Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. He said the SPDC, established under the trilateral “Makkah Accord”, comprises three members from each country — the foreign ministers, defence ministers and chiefs of army staff. On Sept 25, a special meeting took place of the three army chiefs in Riyadh, he said, adding that the foreign ministers had met prior to this in New York in the wake of increased Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. “Very soon, a meeting of the whole SPDC … has been agreed to in principle, to take place in Riyadh,” the deputy premier said, noting that the current situation and “ground reality” would be examined during the meeting, particularly vis-a-vis Saudi Arabia. Responding to a question, DPM Dar said that this upcoming meeting was an emergency one, and the committee would meet again as planned after “the end of October or beginning of November”, when its work was expected to be completed. He said that the meeting would focus on the Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia, as the previous meeting of foreign ministers in New York had done. Later, he said that the meeting would take place “next week”. Regarding yesterday’s airstrike on a power plant in Madina, which was attributed to the Houthis, he highlighted that Pakistan had already condemned it and said it was “not acceptable”. The deputy prime minister also noted that he had spoken to Iran in detail regarding the Houthi attacks, reminding them that Pakistan had its trilateral agreement to honour. Iran, he said, denied association “both with the Houthis and with the Iraqi militia”. Iran also advised that the Houthis be “engaged politically”, rather than using “kinetic action”, he said, although he clarified that this was simply a “brainstorming between two foreign ministers, and in all good faith, a suggestion”. He added that the decision would be taken between the three countries of the SPDC after the upcoming meeting. DPM Dar also stated, responding to a question about the potential expansion of the Makkah defence pact, that while he would not name them, “at least six countries” were keen to join the accord. He added that this would not be possible until after the agreement was made “fully operational”, which would take at least a year, but stressed that the document of the accord itself stated that it would be open to other countries if they agreed to the principles laid down by the existing members. Dar’s remarks come amid fresh fighting between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis. The Houthis have declared a maritime blockade on the kingdom and targeted its ships in the Red Sea. Both sides have claimed strikes on each other as tensions remain high. Meanwhile, the defence pact, signed on Aug 7, aims to strengthen collective deterrence and empower its signatory states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them. The first meeting of the SPDC was held in Istanbul on Aug 31, during which it was decided that the alliance’s secretariat will be initially headed by Pakistan for three years. Retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood has been appointed as the first secretary general of the alliance. UN chief to visit Pakistan before end of tenure During the briefing, the foreign minister also said that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres would visit Pakistan “soon”, likely before the end of his tenure. He said that the UN chief held a meeting with the Pakistan delegation at the UNGA session, highlighting that “We have invited him to Pakistan and the UN secretary general has accepted”. Calling Guterres a great supporter of Pakistan, the deputy premier recalled the “unforgettable” role he played in aiding the country through calamities. He added that the UN chief’s term will end on Dec 31 of this year, and said that the visit would “likely” take place before this. He noted that the programme for the visit would be released by the government and would take place “very soon” on the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “I think it will be a memorable visit,” Dar added. During the premier’s meeting with Guterres on the sidelines of the UNGA last week, the two exchanged views on major regional and international developments. The UN chief also commended Pakistan’s role in the Middle East peace process, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
DPM Dar says committee under Makkah defence pact to meet in Riyadh 'soon'Dar says Makkah defence pact committee to meet in Riyadh next week on Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday that a meeting of Makkah Defence Alliance’s Strategic Political Defence Committee (SPDC) would take place in Riyadh next week, adding that it would focus on Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia The deputy premier was addressing a press briefing regarding the Pakistan delegation’s engagements at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York in September, as well as high-level meetings that took place on its sidelines. “We made a plan because all three of us countries were present (in New York),” Dar said, referring to himself, Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. He said the SPDC, established under the trilateral “Makkah Accord”, comprises three members from each country — the foreign ministers, defence ministers and chiefs of army staff. On Sept 25, a special meeting took place of the three army chiefs in Riyadh, he said, adding that the foreign ministers had met prior to this in New York in the wake of increased Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. “Very soon, a meeting of the whole SPDC … has been agreed to in principle, to take place in Riyadh,” the deputy premier said, noting that the current situation and “ground reality” would be examined during the meeting, particularly vis-a-vis Saudi Arabia. Responding to a question, DPM Dar said that this upcoming meeting was an emergency one, and the committee would meet again as planned after “the end of October or beginning of November”, when its work was expected to be completed. He said that the meeting would focus on the Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia, as the previous meeting of foreign ministers in New York had done. Later, he said that the meeting would take place “next week”. Regarding yesterday’s airstrike on a power plant in Madina, which was attributed to the Houthis, he highlighted that Pakistan had already condemned it and said it was “not acceptable”. The deputy prime minister also noted that he had spoken to Iran in detail regarding the Houthi attacks, reminding them that Pakistan had its trilateral agreement to honour. Iran, he said, denied association “both with the Houthis and with the Iraqi militia”. Iran also advised that the Houthis be “engaged politically”, rather than using “kinetic action”, he said, although he clarified that this was simply a “brainstorming between two foreign ministers, and in all good faith, a suggestion”. He added that the decision would be taken between the three countries of the SPDC after the upcoming meeting. DPM Dar also stated, responding to a question about the potential expansion of the Makkah defence pact, that while he would not name them, “at least six countries” were keen to join the accord. He added that this would not be possible until after the agreement was made “fully operational”, which would take at least a year, but stressed that the document of the accord itself stated that it would be open to other countries if they agreed to the principles laid down by the existing members. The defence pact, signed on Aug 7, aims to strengthen collective deterrence and empower its signatory states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them. The first meeting of the SPDC was held in Istanbul on Aug 31, during which it was decided that the alliance’s secretariat will be initially headed by Pakistan for three years. Retired Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood has been appointed as the first secretary general of the alliance. UN chief to visit Pakistan before end of tenure During the briefing, the foreign minister also said that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres would visit Pakistan “soon”, likely before the end of his tenure. He said that the UN chief held a meeting with the Pakistan delegation at the UNGA session, highlighting that “We have invited him to Pakistan and the UN secretary general has accepted”. Calling Guterres a great supporter of Pakistan, the deputy premier recalled the “unforgettable” role he played in aiding the country through calamities. He added that the UN chief’s term will end on Dec 31 of this year, and said that the visit would “likely” take place before this. He noted that the programme for the visit would be released by the government and would take place “very soon” on the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “I think it will be a memorable visit,” Dar added. During the premier’s meeting with Guterres on the sidelines of the UNGA last week, the two exchanged views on major regional and international developments. The UN chief also commended Pakistan’s role in the Middle East peace process, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
DPM Dar says committee under Makkah defence pact to meet in Riyadh 'soon'DPM Dar says committee under Makkah defence pact to meet in Riyadh 'soon'
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday that a meeting of Makkah Defence Alliance’s Strategic Political Defence Committee (SPDC) would take place in Riyadh “soon”. The deputy premier was addressing a press briefing regarding the Pakistan delegation’s engagements at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York in September, as well as high-level meetings that took place on its sidelines. “We made a plan because all three of us countries were present (in New York),” Dar said, referring to himself, Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. The SPDC, established under the trilateral “Makkah Accord”, comprises three members from each country, he noted — the foreign ministers, defence ministers and chiefs of army staff. On Sept 25, a special meeting took place of the three army chiefs in Riyadh, he said, adding that the foreign ministers had met before this in New York, on Sept 24, in the wake of increased Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. The joint defence pact, signed on August 7, empowers the member states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them. “Very soon, a meeting of the whole SPDC … has been agreed to in principle, to take place in Riyadh,” the deputy premier said, noting that the current situation and “ground reality” would be examined during the meeting, particularly vis-a-vis Saudi Arabia. He added that details of the meeting would be shared after it took place. The first meeting of the SPDC was held in Istanbul on Aug 31, during which it was decided that the alliance’s secretariat will be initially headed by Pakistan for three years. Responding to a question, DPM Dar said that this upcoming meeting was an emergency one, and the committee would meet again as planned after “the end of October or beginning of November”, when its work was expected to be completed. He said that the meeting would focus on the Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia, as the previous meeting of foreign ministers in New York had done. Regarding yesterday’s airstrike on a power plant in Madina, which was attributed to the Houthis, he highlighted that Pakistan had already condemned it and said it was “not acceptable”. The deputy prime minister also noted that he had spoken to Iran in detail regarding the Houthi attacks, reminding them that Pakistan had its trilateral agreement to honour. Iran, he said, denied association “both with the Houthis and with the Iraqi militia”. Iran also advised that the Houthis be “engaged politically”, rather than using “kinetic action”, he said, although he clarified that this was simply a “brainstorming between two foreign ministers, and in all good faith, a suggestion”. He added that the decision would be taken between the three countries of the SPDC after the upcoming meeting. DPM Dar also stated, responding to a question about the potential expansion of the Makkah Pact, that while he would not name them, “at least six countries” were keen to join the accord. He added that this would not be possible until after the agreement was made “fully operational”, which would take at least a year, but stressed that the document of the accord itself stated that it would be open to other countries if they agreed to the principles laid down by the existing members. UN chief to visit Pakistan before end of tenure During the briefing, the foreign minister also said that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres would visit Pakistan “soon”, likely before the end of his tenure. He said that the UN chief held a meeting with the Pakistan delegation at the UNGA session, highlighting that “We have invited him to Pakistan and the UN secretary general has accepted”. Calling Guterres a great supporter of Pakistan, the deputy premier recalled the “unforgettable” role he played in aiding the country through calamities. He added that the UN chief’s term will end on Dec 31 of this year, and said that the visit would “likely” take place before this. He noted that the programme for the visit would be released by the government and would take place “very soon” on the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “I think it will be a memorable visit,” Dar added. During the premier’s meeting with Guterres on the sidelines of the UNGA last week, the two exchanged views on major regional and international developments. The UN chief also commended Pakistan’s role in the Middle East peace process, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
DPM Dar says committee under Makkah defence pact to meet in Riyadh 'soon'DPM Dar says committee under Makkah pact to meet in Riyadh 'soon'
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday that a meeting of the Strategic Political Defence Committee (SPDC) would take place in Riyadh “soon”. The deputy premier was addressing a press briefing regarding the Pakistan delegation’s engagements at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York in September, as well as high-level meetings that took place on its sidelines. “We made a plan because all three of us countries were present (in New York),” Dar said, referring to himself, Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. The SPDC, established under the trilateral Makkah Accord, comprised of three members from each country, he noted: the foreign ministers, defence ministers and chiefs of army staff. On Sept 25, a special meeting took place of the three army chiefs in Riyadh, he said, adding that the foreign ministers had met before this in New York, on Sept 24, in the wake of increased Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. “Very soon, a meeting of the whole SPDC … has been agreed to in principle, to take place in Riyadh,” the deputy premier said, noting that the current situation and “ground reality” would be examined during the meeting, particularly vis-a-vis Saudi Arabia. He added that details of the meeting would be shared after it took place. Responding to a question, DPM Dar said that this upcoming meeting was an emergency one, and the committee would meet again as planned after “the end of October or beginning of November”, when its work was expected to be completed. UN chief to visit Pakistan before end of tenure During the briefing, the foreign minister also said that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres would visit Pakistan “soon”, likely before the end of his tenure. He said that the UN chief held a meeting with the Pakistan delegation at the UNGA session, highlighting that “We have invited him to Pakistan and the UN secretary general has accepted”. Calling Guterres a great supporter of Pakistan, the deputy premier recalled the “unforgettable” role he played in aiding the country through calamities. He added that the UN chief’s term will end on Dec 31 of this year, and said that the visit would “likely” take place before this. He noted that the programme for the visit would be released by the government and would take place “very soon” on the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “I think it will be a memorable visit,” Dar added. More to follow
Saudi minister announces discovery of major uranium deposit near Medina
"The kingdom continues its efforts to create a comprehensive national energy mix, including nuclear power," Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud said
Pakistan to continue efforts for 'defusing' regional tensions, PM tells Saudi crown prince
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday told Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman that Pakistan would continue its efforts for “defusing” regional tensions and expressed solidarity with the Gulf state in light of recent Houthi attacks. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), in a phone call, the premier condemned the recent attacks on Saudi’s civilian and economic infrastructure. PM Shehbaz also expressed alarm that the Houthi actions “threatened regional peace and security and could further disrupt the global economy and energy supplies”. He told the Saudi crown prince that he, alongside Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, “would continue their efforts for defusing tensions and bringing peace in the region”. “In this regard, the prime minister lauded the Saudi crown prince for his wise and sagacious leadership throughout the crisis,” the statement said. “The prime minister also availed himself of this occasion to convey his warm wishes and respectful regards for the custodian of the two holy mosques, His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.” The Saudi prince, for his part, appreciated Pakistan’s support and its efforts for regional peace and stability. “The two leaders agreed to continue to remain in close contact, and looked forward to meeting each other at an early date,” PMO said. More to follow.
BRICS Summit
The main programme of the summit has opened in New Delhi, India. Taking part in the meeting of BRICS heads of delegation are President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto, President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian, President of China Xi Jinping, Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed, President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council (UAE) Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister of Brazil Mauro Luiz Iecker Vieira, and Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. Prior to the meeting, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi held an official welcoming ceremony for the Summit participants. The meeting participants will address initiatives put forward under India’s chairmanship, prospects for further strengthening the BRICS strategic partnership in politics and security, economics and finance, and cultural and humanitarian ties, as well as pressing international and regional issues.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in New Delhi to attend BRICS summit