Lt. Gen. (R) Raza Muhammad Khan (Defence Analyst):OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha has welcomed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement among Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye. Secretary General OIC has declared pact as pride for the whole Ummah. Makkah Joint Defence Agreement is meant to strengthening security structure and collective deterrence for all members. Agreement covers military training, military exercises to strengthen security of member countries. Pact is kept open and any country may join this pact as all three countries have announced to welcome participation of any country in future. Agreement is guarantor of regional peace and security. UN and other international bodies must also endorse this pact immediately. This pact may further be expanded like NATO in future; however, NATO pact is quite different from this pact.

Amb. Waheed Ahmad (Former Diplomat):Makkah Joint Defence Agreement is a positive and significant step towards a collective security where everyone member shares collective expertise and experience for regional development and progress. Agreement is also a win-win position for everyone. Turkish President Erdogan has already indicated that pact is open for other countries to join. So I think that Iran may also join this pact as Iranian President during his last visit to Islamabad also expressed a similar desire. It will be a great achievement for West Asia to counter outside forces threatening the peace in the region. The pact may also check Israeli influence in the region as Israeli has been threatening to demilitarized states around its borders in the past. But Muslim countries neighbouring to Israel had not been able to counter Israeli aggression. However, now this pact covers entire surrounding of Israel. Now Israel will have to confront three powerful countries in case of any aggression against Saudi Arabia. Certain Indian circles look towards Pakistan for every mishap inside India; however, some sane voices also speak wisely. Therefore,some circles are also appreciating Pakistan’s diplomacy in getting Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed.

Amb A M Shahid (Former Diplomat):  Makkah Joint Defence Agreement is very important as it offers a new regional security platform. Makkah Joint Defence Agreement is a defensive agreement; so attack on one country to be considered as attack on all three countries. It is not against any country; hopefully other Muslim countries may also join this pact. Hopefully, the US and Europe may welcome this pact because both have good ties with Saudi Arabia. So far, no negative impression has been issued by US or EU. I think that Saudi Arabia might have kept US onboard on Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.