- The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed on Friday, states that an armed attack on any one of the three countries would be treated as an attack on all of them.
- Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Saturday described the pact as a possible model for a wider military alliance among Islamic countries, comparing such a grouping to Nato.
- Analysts say New Delhi will need to be cautious because Pakistan has framed the pact as a potential platform for broader cooperation.
- The tripartite agreement followed a bilateral one between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed last September.
- The development comes as Bangladesh explores buying JF-17 Thunder fighter jets – co-developed by China and Pakistan – from Islamabad as part of Dhaka’s military modernisation plans.
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan have formalized a military alliance with the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed on Friday. This pact stipulates that an armed attack on any one of the three nations will be considered an attack on all, heightening security concerns in the region, particularly for India.145
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif characterized the agreement as a potential model for a broader military coalition among Islamic nations, likening it to an 'Islamic Nato'. This comparison has raised eyebrows in New Delhi, as analysts suggest that Islamabad may leverage this pact to strengthen security ties with other Muslim-majority countries in the region.23
Despite the potential for increased cooperation, experts caution that Islamic nations often prioritize national interests over religious solidarity. Delhi will need to remain vigilant as Pakistan positions the agreement as a platform for wider collaboration. The agreement follows a bilateral pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed last September, indicating a trend towards deeper military ties among these nations.
In a related development, Bangladesh is reportedly considering purchasing JF-17 Thunder fighter jets from Pakistan, further complicating the regional security landscape as Dhaka modernizes its military capabilities.
“The pact, signed Friday, treats an armed attack on any one as an attack on all, following a bilateral Saudi-Pakistan deal last September. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif called it a possible model for a wider military alliance, as Bangladesh explores buying JF-17 jets.”
South China Morning Post
