Pakistan Urges Muslim Nations To Join Saudi-Turkey Defence Pact

Pakistan has called on Muslim nations to join its defence arrangement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, aiming to develop a military alliance similar to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday.

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that the agreement should not be exclusive and urged other Islamic nations to join. He emphasized the importance of putting aside differences and standing together on a single platform, similar to NATO.

The pact comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, with concerns over a potential regional conflict. The agreement builds on a defence agreement signed by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last year.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan noted that the new arrangement is technically similar to NATO's Article 5 mutual defence provision, where an attack on one country is considered an attack on all.

The three countries bring unique capabilities to the arrangement, with Pakistan having extensive military experience and being the only nuclear-armed country in the Muslim world. Saudi Arabia has significant economic resources and regional influence, while Turkey has a large military and a growing domestic defence industry.

Senior officials have indicated that the pact could eventually expand to include more countries, with Egypt being a potential candidate for membership.

Turkish President Erdogan has expressed his desire for the alliance to expand, with the goal of supporting the security of the member states.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar maintained that the defence agreement is not directed against any country and remains open to other nations in the region.

The development of this military alliance has significant implications for regional security and could potentially lead to a broader collective security arrangement.

As the situation continues to unfold, it is likely that the international community will be closely watching the developments of this new alliance.

In conclusion, Pakistan's call for Muslim nations to join the defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey marks a significant development in regional security. The potential expansion of this alliance could have far-reaching implications for the Middle East and beyond.