Muhammad Amanullah — September 16, 2026
Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has said that the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement is purely defensive in nature and is not directed against any country or alliance.
Speaking in an interview with Al Arabiya, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) said the agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye contains no element of aggression or interference in the affairs of other countries.
According to Chaudhry, the primary purpose of the agreement is to strengthen collective defence among its members and contribute to regional peace and security. Recent reporting on the interview also confirms that the three countries would jointly decide their response if any member came under attack.
Not Directed Against Any Country
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the Mecca Defence Pact is not aimed at any other country or alliance.
He said the agreement provides a formal framework for strengthening the historic relations between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. He also stressed that the pact should not be viewed as an offensive military alliance.
According to the DG ISPR, if one of the three member countries were attacked, the response would be decided through mutual consultation among the leadership of the three countries.
He said the significance of the agreement was not limited to Muslim countries and that it could contribute to broader regional peace and security. Recent reporting said the pact is intended to promote non-aggression, non-interference and regional stability, while leaving room for other countries committed to peace to participate.
Regional Peace Remains a Priority
Chaudhry said Pakistan’s fundamental priority is to maintain peace in the region and prevent existing conflicts from spreading further.
He said Pakistan has longstanding relations with both the United States and Iran, placing Islamabad in a position where it could potentially contribute to communication and mediation efforts between the two sides.
The DG ISPR said Pakistan has no personal interest in the conflict and wants disputes to be resolved through dialogue rather than military action.
He stressed that countries willing to play a role in mediation or negotiations should maintain an impartial approach so they can help reduce tensions and bring the parties to the negotiating table.
Dialogue Is the Way Forward
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said it was important to prevent conflicts from expanding to additional air, land or maritime fronts.
According to him, lasting solutions to disputes cannot be achieved through military operations alone and should instead be pursued through dialogue and diplomatic efforts.
He also called on countries involved in mediation efforts to continue playing a neutral role and help create conditions for meaningful negotiations.
Pakistan has said that it wants regional conflicts to be contained rather than expanded and supports diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions.
Room for More Partners
The DG ISPR said the Mecca Defence Pact could potentially be expanded to include additional partners in the future.
However, he emphasized that its fundamental principles would remain collective defence, mutual cooperation and regional security.
He said it would not be accurate to portray the agreement as a broader offensive alliance. Instead, its central concept is to organize and strengthen defence cooperation among participating countries.
Recent reporting also noted
یہ The True Post کے لیے مکمل English version ہے، اصل خبر کے تمام اہم نکات برقرار رکھتے ہوئے۔ موجودہ رپورٹنگ سے بھی بنیادی دعووں کی مطابقت ملتی ہے۔ (UrduPoint)
Mecca Defence Pact Is Purely Defensive and Not Against Any Country: DG ISPR
By Muhammad Amanullah — September 16, 2026
Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has said that the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement is purely defensive in nature and is not directed against any country or alliance.
Speaking in an interview with Al Arabiya, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) said the agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye contains no element of aggression or interference in the affairs of other countries.
According to Chaudhry, the primary purpose of the agreement is to strengthen collective defence among its members and contribute to regional peace and security. Recent reporting on the interview also confirms that the three countries would jointly decide their response if any member came under attack. (UrduPoint)
Not Directed Against Any Country
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the Mecca Defence Pact is not aimed at any other country or alliance.
He said the agreement provides a formal framework for strengthening the historic relations between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. He also stressed that the pact should not be viewed as an offensive military alliance.
According to the DG ISPR, if one of the three member countries were attacked, the response would be decided through mutual consultation among the leadership of the three countries.
He said the significance of the agreement was not limited to Muslim countries and that it could contribute to broader regional peace and security. Recent reporting said the pact is intended to promote non-aggression, non-interference and regional stability, while leaving room for other countries committed to peace to participate. (UrduPoint)
Regional Peace Remains a Priority
Chaudhry said Pakistan’s fundamental priority is to maintain peace in the region and prevent existing conflicts from spreading further.
He said Pakistan has longstanding relations with both the United States and Iran, placing Islamabad in a position where it could potentially contribute to communication and mediation efforts between the two sides.
The DG ISPR said Pakistan has no personal interest in the conflict and wants disputes to be resolved through dialogue rather than military action.
He stressed that countries willing to play a role in mediation or negotiations should maintain an impartial approach so they can help reduce tensions and bring the parties to the negotiating table.
Dialogue Is the Way Forward
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said it was important to prevent conflicts from expanding to additional air, land or maritime fronts.
According to him, lasting solutions to disputes cannot be achieved through military operations alone and should instead be pursued through dialogue and diplomatic efforts.
He also called on countries involved in mediation efforts to continue playing a neutral role and help create conditions for meaningful negotiations.
Pakistan has said that it wants regional conflicts to be contained rather than expanded and supports diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions. (AsiaOne News)
Room for More Partners
The DG ISPR said the Mecca Defence Pact could potentially be expanded to include additional partners in the future.
However, he emphasized that its fundamental principles would remain collective defence, mutual cooperation and regional security.
He said it would not be accurate to portray the agreement as a broader offensive alliance. Instead, its central concept is to organize and strengthen defence cooperation among participating countries.
Recent reporting also noted that the agreement is not formally described as being limited to a “Muslim alliance” and could potentially be open to other countries that support regional peace and stability. (UrduPoint)
Terrorism From Afghanistan
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry also discussed attacks and terrorism originating from Afghanistan, saying Pakistan would take all necessary measures to protect its citizens.
He referred to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which recognizes the right of states to self-defence.
The DG ISPR said Pakistan has the capability to protect its territory and citizens and would continue taking measures against external aggression and terrorism.
He said the state has a responsibility to protect the lives, dignity and property of its citizens and that there would be no relaxation in efforts against terrorism.
Counterterrorism Operations Continue
Chaudhry said Pakistan has been fighting terrorism for more than two decades and that security forces continue to conduct operations against militant groups across the country.
According to figures cited by the DG ISPR, more than 42,000 intelligence-based operations have been conducted across Pakistan during the current year.
He said counterterrorism operations against threats originating from Afghanistan were also continuing.
More Than 2,100 Militants Reportedly Killed
The DG ISPR said more than 2,100 militants had been killed so far this year.
He said Pakistani civilians, soldiers and police personnel had continued to make sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.
Chaudhry said the state would not compromise on counterterrorism efforts and that security institutions would continue operations aimed at eliminating terrorist threats and protecting the public.
The figures regarding operations and militant deaths were statements attributed to the Pakistani military spokesperson and are not independently verified in the available reporting. (AsiaOne News)
Call for Reducing Regional Tensions
The DG ISPR once again stressed the importance of preventing current regional conflicts from spreading.
He said dialogue, diplomacy and communication should be prioritized over military escalation as the means of creating the conditions for lasting peace.
Pakistan, he said, remains prepared to play a role in regional peace efforts, provided all relevant parties move towards peaceful and negotiated solutions.
Against this backdrop, the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement is being presented by Pakistan as a framework for collective defence and regional security cooperation rather than an arrangement directed against another country or alliance. (UrduPoint)
