LAHORE MIRROR — Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said that if any party to the Makkah defence pact is attacked, the three member countries will jointly determine a course of action and implement it.
In an interview with an Arab television channel, he said Pakistan’s defence capabilities were purely defensive and that the country was not engaged in an arms race. He said Pakistan had no aggressive intentions towards any country but had full confidence in its ability to defend itself and respond to aggression.
The DG ISPR said the Makkah pact was defensive in nature and aimed at promoting regional peace and stability. He added that details concerning military operations and security arrangements were kept confidential, and the mechanism for responding to an attack could not be disclosed publicly.
On Afghanistan, he said United Nations reports referred to dozens of militant organisations operating there. Pakistan’s sole demand, he added, was that Afghan territory should not be used for terrorism against Pakistan.
Lieutenant General Chaudhry said Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye also enjoyed strong and historic ties with China, adding that the Mecca pact was not directed against any country but was intended to strengthen mutual defence cooperation.
