Pakistan says Mecca defense pact will not affect ties with Iran

Pakistan's military agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, known as the Mecca Agreement, is purely defensive in nature and is not expected to affect relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, a Pakistan Army spokesperson emphasized. Speaking in an interview with English Al-Arabiya, the spokesman added that the agreement is formulated as a joint defensive shield aimed at establishing regional peace, stability, and security; it is not intended for aggression or offensive action.

The spokesman also emphasized that the agreement would not complicate Pakistan's relations with Iran, nor would it affect the country's strategic ties with China. In response to a question about what action Pakistan would take if a member state of the agreement were attacked, the Pakistan Army spokesperson stated that the operational details of the defense agreement would not be released. No country or military force publicly discloses the details of its military operations or the manner in which it would fulfill specific defense obligations, he said, adding that a practical response to an attack would be determined by Pakistan itself, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

The spokesman, identified as Chaudhry, stressed that there are numerous defense agreements worldwide that entail specific commitments, yet the manner in which military operations are conducted within their framework is not publicly disclosed. He added that the goal of this agreement is to establish stability, peace, and security in the region, not to form a coalition exclusive to Muslim countries.

According to Mehr News, the interview with English Al-Arabiya covered Pakistan's stance on the Mecca Agreement and its implications for regional alliances. The spokesman's remarks aimed to clarify that the pact is defensive and does not target any specific country, including Iran.