Pakistan’s defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye centers on the principle of “collective deterrence” and does not pursue any regional ambitions or offensive objectives, stated Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry in an interview with Al-Arabiya. He underscored that the agreement complements the existing international relationships of the three countries rather than conflicting with them.

Chaudhry highlighted that the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA) is fundamentally defensive, not a tool for expanding regional rivalry. “A straightforward reading of the publicly released agreement by the three governments clearly shows it is based on collective deterrence,” he explained. “There is no offensive, interference, or aggressive aspect; it is purely defensive in nature.”

When questioned about whether this arrangement marked the start of a wider strategic alliance, Chaudhry reiterated its defensive nature. “It is defensive, as the term itself indicates. There is nothing aggressive about it,” he said. “There are no regional ambitions; it is strictly a collective deterrence mechanism.”

He also assured that the pact would not disrupt the three nations’ existing military and diplomatic ties with other countries or alliances. “It is complementary,” he stated. “Each country maintains its own independent military-to-military relations and alliances with other nations or blocs. This mutual defence agreement does not compete with any of those relationships.”

Addressing concerns about whether the new defence cooperation might complicate Pakistan’s stance toward Iran, Chaudhry dismissed the notion. “Not at all,” he asserted, describing the pact as an extension of long-standing strategic relationships between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye. “These ties have been built over decades,” he added.

Chaudhry emphasized that Pakistan’s connections with both Saudi Arabia and Türkiye extend well beyond military collaboration. “These relationships are special, rooted in people-to-people bonds, emotional and cultural connections, as well as government-to-government and military cooperation spanning many years,” he said. He characterized the new agreement as a formalization of these deep strategic links amid a complex regional environment.

On Pakistan’s role as a mediator between Tehran and Washington, Chaudhry defended Islamabad’s involvement as an effort to promote regional peace. “The aim is peace and regional stability, which stems from peace,” he explained when asked about Pakistan’s motivation for mediation. “Pakistan strongly advocates for peace in the region and beyond.”

He further noted that Pakistan’s foreign policy of maintaining diverse partnerships uniquely positions it to facilitate dialogue. “Because of its multi-alignment and engagement with friendly countries worldwide, Pakistan can serve as an impartial arbiter for peace,” he said.

When asked if the defence pact included a mutual defence obligation, Chaudhry referred to the publicly available text from the three countries’ leadership. However, the interview segment provided ended before he completed his response.