Pakistan: Expansion of Makkah defence alliance not under discussion for now
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Makkah defence alliance involving Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia is defensive in nature. The expansion of the agreement is not currently under consideration, Dawn reports.
Consultations between participants
Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said during a weekly briefing that the alliance is primarily intended to ensure regional security through deterrence. According to him, the three states are holding consultations at various levels within the framework of this arrangement.
Khan noted that Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia must first strengthen the organization and their interaction. After that, he said, the agreement will be open to countries with similar positions and views. The participants will decide on a possible expansion of the alliance later.
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Statements regarding India
At the same briefing, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson condemned what he described as the systematic and state-sanctioned demolition of Muslim places of worship in India. He mentioned the demolition of a mosque in India’s Saharanpur on September 5 and said that, in Pakistan’s view, such actions contradict the 1950 Liaquat–Nehru Pact, which guaranteed the security and rights of religious minorities.
Khan also said that these actions violate India’s 1991 Places of Worship Act, which provides for preserving the religious character of places of worship as of August 15, 1947. Pakistan called on the international community to pay attention to the persecution of Muslims in India and the destruction of their places of worship.
In addition, the spokesperson rejected a statement by India’s Ministry of External Affairs concerning a Hindu temple in Pakistan’s Narowal. According to him, the temple structure was damaged by heavy rains.
