Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Jaishankar Questions Immediate Significance of Pakistan-Saudi-Türkiye Makkah Defence Pact
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye made a defence agreement called the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
It says that an attack on one of them should be treated as an attack on all three.
The agreement also promises deeper military cooperation.
India is watching the agreement and studying how it could affect Indian security.
S. Jaishankar questioned whether the pact had already made a difference in current military situations.
He said India would include it in its wider security calculations.
Jaishankar also criticised Pakistan over what he described as systematic and sustained use of terrorism against India.
He said India and China both have an interest in a stable relationship, but their border situation remains important.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar questioned what the Makkah pact had achieved amid military situations facing its three signatories.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the agreement on August 7 to strengthen collective deterrence and defence cooperation.
The pact states that an armed attack on any one signatory would be regarded as an attack on all three.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it was assessing the agreement’s implications for national security and regional peace and stability.
Jaishankar also criticised Pakistan’s alleged sustained use of terrorism and said border issues remain central to India-China relations.
- Who
- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and the governments of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
- What
- India is assessing the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, while Jaishankar has questioned its immediate significance and criticised Pakistan’s security policies.
- When
- The agreement was signed on August 7; India issued further comments on August 11, and Jaishankar made his latest remarks afterward at an event.
- Where
- Jaishankar made the remarks at an event in Delhi; the agreement was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
- Why
- The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence, treat an attack on one signatory as an attack on all, and expand defence cooperation; India is assessing its potential security implications.
India’s assessment
Signatories’ stated purpose
Immediate significance
India’s assessment
Jaishankar questioned what the agreement had achieved amid the live military situations confronting Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, suggesting it may not yet be an immediate game-changing military development.
Signatories’ stated purpose
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye said the agreement is rooted in shared strategic interests and intended to strengthen collective deterrence against aggression.
Defence commitment
India’s assessment
India is treating the pact as a factor in its broader security calculations, particularly because it involves countries whose policies New Delhi considers unfavourable toward India.
Signatories’ stated purpose
The joint statement says an armed attack on any one of the three states would be regarded as an attack against them all, alongside enhanced defence cooperation.
- Agreement
- Makkah Joint Defence Agreement
- Signatories
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye
- Signing date
- August 7
- Core provision
- An armed attack against one signatory is to be regarded as an attack against all three.
- India’s position
- New Delhi is examining the pact’s implications for national security, regional peace and stability.
- Jaishankar’s assessment
- He questioned what the pact had done in response to the live military situations facing its signatories.
- Additional topics
- Jaishankar discussed Pakistan-US relations and said the India-China border situation remains central to their broader relationship.