Pakistan says Mecca alliance could welcome new partners

Other countries could also join the Mecca Agreement if they believe in peace in the Asian region, Pakistani General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said.

In an interview with Al Arabiya, he stated that any country that shares a common vision of non-aggression, non-interference, and collective deterrence can join the alliance, Calibre.Az reports, citing Russian media.

The Mecca Agreement currently includes Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.

“This agreement, this alliance can include new and willing partners who also believe in peace, stability and security in the region, as well as share a common vision of non-aggression, non-interference and collective deterrence,” he stressed.

According to him, the format should not be viewed as a “club consisting exclusively of Muslim countries”.

Decisions on expanding the alliance should be made by its member states, he added.

The general stressed that the pact is defensive in nature and aimed at “collective deterrence”. Moreover, “there is nothing aggressive about it, and there are no regional ambitions”.

“Thus, this mutual defence agreement is complementary in nature. It does not hinder any other relations of the member states,” Chaudhry added.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov