Shehbaz, MBS and Erdogan offer Friday prayers at Qasr Al-Safa

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered Friday prayers together at Qasr Al-Safa, royal palace located near the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

The gathering of top leadership from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye at one of Islam’s most revered locations has drawn attention amid growing cooperation among the three countries on strategic, economic, and regional matters.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, along with senior Saudi and Turkish officials, was also present during the occasion.

Shehbaz Sharif is currently visiting Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with discussions between the leadership of both countries focusing on strengthening bilateral ties, expanding defence cooperation, boosting economic partnership, and addressing key regional developments.

The joint appearance of the leaders during Friday prayers is being viewed as a symbolic reflection of the historic bonds, religious connection, and expanding diplomatic relationship among Islamabad, Riyadh and Ankara.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey boosted their partnership with a collective defence clause in the Makkah Defence Agreement, which is similar to NATO’s Article 5. 

The proposed pact would commit Islamabad, Ankara and Riyadh to treat an armed attack on any one member as an attack against all, in a shift in the region’s security architecture.