Makkah Defense Agreement Is Defensive, Does Not Compete With Other Alliances: DG ISPR

ISLAMABAD: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye is defensive in nature and does not compete with existing regional or international alliances.

In an interview with Al Arabiya English, the DG ISPR said the agreement was designed to complement existing security arrangements and focus on regional stability, peace and collective security.

Alliance Could Expand to New Partners

Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the partnership was not intended to be an exclusive grouping for Muslim countries.

“It’s not a club that has been made for Muslim countries only,” he said.

He added that the leadership of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye would determine if and when additional countries could join the partnership.

According to the DG ISPR, the framework remains open to countries that support regional peace, stability and security and share a vision based on non-aggression, non-interference and collective deterrence.

Operational Details Remain Classified

Asked how the three countries would respond if one of them came under attack, the DG ISPR said the operational details of their defence commitments remained classified.

He said the agreement’s specific military arrangements would be determined through the appropriate mechanisms and according to the commitments made by the three participating countries.

The agreement, he stressed, was focused on defence and was not intended to create competition with other security alliances.

Pakistan Calls for Dialogue on Middle East

Addressing the wider Middle East conflict, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said dialogue remained the only way to resolve the situation.

He called on all parties involved to work toward a negotiated and peaceful outcome and avoid further escalation.

Pakistan Says It Does Not Seek Arms Race With India

The DG ISPR also said Pakistan was not seeking an arms race with India despite what he described as India’s expanding military capabilities.

He said Islamabad’s defence policies were focused on safeguarding the country’s security and maintaining a credible defensive capability.

Counterterrorism Operations to Continue

Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry further said Pakistan would continue counterterrorism operations against attacks that Islamabad says originate from Afghanistan.

He reiterated Pakistan’s position that security threats emerging from across the border would be addressed through continued counterterrorism measures.

The comments provide further details on Pakistan’s position regarding the Makkah defence framework, regional security cooperation and Islamabad’s broader approach to the Middle East and counterterrorism.