Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, said a negotiated settlement to the Middle East conflict was essential, warning that the Mecca Alliance’s collective deterrence would come into play if diplomacy failed and military confrontation escalated.
In an interview with an Arab television channel, Lt. Gen. Chaudhry said the joint defence agreement had advanced rapidly and reflected the shared thinking of three countries.
He said protecting Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and Islam’s two holiest sites remained a top priority for Pakistan, adding that Islamabad’s position was unequivocal and that its political leadership and field marshal had already conveyed the country’s message.
Attacks on the holy sites had prompted strong anger among the Pakistani public and the country’s political and military leadership, he said. Further escalation of regional tensions would benefit no country, he added.
Lt. Gen. Chaudhry said expanding the military conflict in the Middle East was in no one’s interest and stressed the need to reach a negotiated settlement. If diplomacy failed and military confrontation followed, the alliance’s collective deterrence would be activated, he said.
He added that the Mecca Alliance had a clear leadership structure and course of action, insisting that it had no aggressive intentions.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye shared a commitment to regional peace, stability and prosperity, he said, adding that the alliance was not directed against any particular country but was intended to promote regional security.
Muslim countries needed to unite rather than engage in conflict with one another, Lt. Gen. Chaudhry said.
