FO says Makkah defence pact 'defensive' in nature, expansion currently 'not on the cards'

FO notes Makkah defence pact 'defensive' in nature, expansion at present 'not on the cards'.

Key points

• Ameer HamzaNews Desk Published September 10, 2026 Updated September 10, 2026 08: 08pm.
• He observed that the ongoing repression additionally breached India's own laws, particularly the Places of Worship Special Provisions Act, 1991.
• Khan held that the demolitions were in breach of the Liaquat-Nehru Pact signed in 1950.
• Malik was named in June by India's State Investigation Agency (SIA) as one of five men charged with the killing of Sarla Bhat.
• In the weekly briefing, Khan additionally issued a categorical rejection of a statement produced by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs over a Hindu temple in Narowal.

Ameer HamzaNews Desk Published September 10, 2026 Updated September 10, 2026 08: 08pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office (FO) remarked on Thursday that the Makkah Defence Alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye was "defensive" in nature, adding that expansion of the pact was at present "not on the cards".

FO spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan created the remarks while addressing a weekly press briefing. He remarked that the pact was primarily a "defensive alliance to ensure regional security primarily through deterrence".

He remarked that expansion of the pact was at present "not on the cards", adding that "Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye must first further consolidate their organisation and cooperation".

He remarked that after the consolidation, the agreement will be "open to all countries that share similar stances and perspectives".

According to The spokesperson, the three member states were holding consultations at various levels under the framework.

He reiterated that the states will create a decision on the agreement's expansion at a afterwards stage.

"At this stage, there are no discussions regarding the expansion of the Makkah agreement, " he remarked.

He remarked information on future meetings will be shared "on an ongoing basis", adding that exact timing was not yet known.

Khan remarked the pact was in the initial stage of formation and detailed consultations on "its structure, procedures and other matters" will be held.

"Significant work lies ahead to finalise the organisation's structure, mechanisms, and procedures, " he remarked, adding that any future developments will become clear in due course.

Notably, the defence pact, signed on Aug 7, intends to strengthen collective deterrence and empower its signatory states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them.

Its inaugural session was held on August 31 in Istanbul, where it was decided that a secretariat headed by a secretary general will be established in Saudi Arabia to backing the alliance's work under the agreement. The secretariat will initially be headed by a secretary general from Pakistan for a period of three years. 'State-sanctioned' demolition of Muslim worship sites in India condemned.

For context, the FO spokesperson additionally condemned what he described as the "systematic" and "state-sanctioned" demolition of Muslim worship sites in India.

In response to a question regarding how Pakistan planned to build more pressure on the Indian administration regarding the matter of demolition of worship sites, given the demolition of a mosque in India's Saharanpur on September 5, the spokesperson remarked, "Pakistan expresses deep concern and condemns the systematic state-sanctioned demolition of Islamic holy places in India under different pretexts".

Khan held that the demolitions were in breach of the Liaquat-Nehru Pact signed in 1950. It the spokesperson remarked guaranteed the security and rights of religious minorities.

He observed that the ongoing repression additionally breached India's own laws, particularly the Places of Worship Special Provisions Act, 1991. It he noted mandated the maintenance of the religious character of places of worship "as it existed on August 15, 1947".

Referring to the recent demolition of a mosque in Uttar Pradesh, he observed: "The Hindu-driven Islamophobic campaign has resulted in an imminent threat and the destruction of centuries-old heritage sites and places of worship, including the Akhonji, Ajgaib Shaeed Mosque, the Saharanapur Collectorate mosque, as well as the 1, 000-year-old mosque, Ganj Shahida mosque, which has recently received notices from the court."

He recalled that the 1992 demolition of the Babri mosque remained a "dreadful memory of this ideology of religious intolerance, prejudice, and hatred".

Explaining what steps Pakistan planned to take towards the matter, Khan stated, "Pakistan calls upon the international community to take immediate notice of this systematic persecution in India against Muslims and continued desecration and destruction of their places of worship".

"Contrary to India's claim, the temple's structure was damaged in torrential rain, " he remarked.

Yasin Malik's decision to forgo defence 'damning indictment' of Indian judicial system.

For context, the spokesperson was additionally asked concerning the recent implication of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)'s incarcerated chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik, in a case from 1990.

Malik was named in June by India's State Investigation Agency (SIA) as one of five men charged with the killing of Sarla Bhat. Nevertheless, he submitted an affidavit stating that he had decided not to contest the trial and that his decision should not be treated as an admission of guilt or acceptance of the prosecution's allegations.

Referring to Malik's action, the FO remarked, "The stance taken by Yasin Malik is beyond an act of heroism. It is a damning indictment of the Indian judicial system. It has acted as a convenient tool in the hands of the Indian administration, suppressing the Kashmiri residents and depriving them of any recourse to justice".

Khan held that in repudiating the right to defence, Malik has "struck a stinging blow to the judicial sham that the Indian government wanted to stage in its sinister campaign to malign the Kashmiri leadership". The spokesperson additionally expressed concern at Malik's deteriorating health.

"The international community must not allow the Indian design to mortgage his life and well-being to advance its oppressive occupation of the IIOK, " he remarked, adding that Pakistan condemned the prosecution of Malik.

Meanwhile, the FO spokesperson pressed the UN and other humanitarian bodies to take note of Malik's situation.

For now, FO says Makkah defence pact ' defensive' in nature, expansion currently ' not on remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.