Response to Any Attack on Makkah Pact to Be Decided by Three Nations: DG ISPR

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan is a defensive and complementary arrangement focused on regional stability, with any response to an attack under the pact to be decided by the three member countries, says DG ISPR.

Pakistan Armed Forces Spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry made the remarks while speaking to Al Arabiya TV on current regional issues, stressing that the Makkah pact does not compete with other alliances.

Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the operational details of the defence commitments between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan remain classified.

He said the alliance is focused on regional stability and could be expanded to include new partners. He clarified that the pact is not a “Muslim club,” adding that any decision to expand the agreement would be taken by the leadership of the three member countries.

Reiterating the defensive nature of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, the DG ISPR stressed that the arrangement does not compete with other alliances.

The military spokesperson also said Pakistan would continue its counterterrorism operations against attacks it says originate from Afghanistan.

On Pakistan’s military capabilities and regional security, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stressed that Pakistan is not seeking an arms race with India despite its expanding military capabilities.

“Our defensive capabilities are defensive. We have no aggressive designs for any country. First to defend and to inflict punishment,” the DG ISPR said.