DG ISPR Says Response Under Makkah Defence Pact Will Be Decided Jointly
ISLAMABAD:Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said that if any one party to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement comes under attack, the three member countries will jointly determine their course of action and implement it accordingly.
Speaking in an interview with Al Arabiya English, the DG ISPR said the Makkah agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye is purely defensive in nature and is aimed at collective deterrence, regional stability and security. He stressed that the pact has no offensive or aggressive element and is not directed against any particular country.
Responding to a question about India’s military spending, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said India is allocating significant resources to expanding its military capabilities, while Pakistan’s defence capabilities are purely defensive. He said this should not be interpreted as Pakistan entering an arms race.
The DG ISPR said Pakistan has no aggressive intentions against any country and expressed confidence in the country’s defensive capabilities. He added that Pakistan is capable of defending itself and responding to threats when necessary.
On the country’s political objectives, Lt Gen Chaudhry said political goals are determined by the country’s political leadership. He said the military and the state do not have separate objectives, adding that Pakistan’s goals and aspirations fall within the domain of the political leadership.
### Afghanistan and Terrorism
Addressing a question about the situation in Afghanistan, the DG ISPR referred to United Nations reports regarding the presence of numerous terrorist organisations in Afghanistan. He said Pakistan’s position is that Afghanistan should not become a centre for terrorism.
He alleged that the Taliban government is allowing militants to train for terrorism against Pakistan. He said Pakistan’s sole demand is that Afghan territory should not be used for terrorist activities against Pakistan.
### Details of Military Response to Remain Confidential
Asked specifically how Pakistan would respond if one of the Makkah agreement’s members were attacked, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the procedures for implementing defence commitments are not disclosed publicly.
He explained that the three countries would jointly determine their response to any attack and then act according to the agreed course of action. Military operations and security-related information, he emphasized, remain confidential.
The DG ISPR said there is no objection to the Makkah agreement because all three countries understand it as a defensive arrangement intended to promote regional peace and stability. He added that the agreement is complementary to the countries’ other defence partnerships and does not prevent them from maintaining independent relations with other states and alliances.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office has also described the Makkah agreement as a defensive alliance focused on regional security through deterrence. The three countries have been working to institutionalize cooperation under the agreement, including through a Strategic Political and Defence Committee.
