{
  "id": 7715130,
  "title": "DG ISPR says Makkah defence pact has 'no regional aspirations', intended for collective deterrence",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/dg-ispr-says-makkah-defence-pact-has-no-regional-aspirations-intended-7715130",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T05:32:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2030336/dg-ispr-says-makkah-defence-pact-has-no-regional-aspirations-intended-for-collective-deterrence"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, clarified that the Makkah Defence Alliance, comprising Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye, does not have any regional ambitions. The agreement is focused on collective deterrence and defense of the three nations, as its name suggests. It is not intended to be aggressive, nor does it seek to form a broader strategic alliance. Chaudhry emphasized that the alliance is defensive and complementary to the existing relationships of each country with other nations, blocs, and alliances. He reiterated that each country maintains independent relationships outside of this mutual defense agreement. When asked about potential defense obligations, Chaudhry mentioned that the specific details of operational commitments remain classified. He also clarified that the alliance is not exclusive to Muslim countries and is focused on regional stability. The pact, signed on August 7, states that an attack on any member state would be considered an attack on all members. Pakistan was initially chosen to head the alliance's secretariat for three years. While there have been discussions about expanding the alliance, with Turkiye suggesting Egypt as a potential new member, no decision has been made yet. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar had previously affirmed that the pact is defensive in nature and open to any regionally interested country.",
  "summary": "Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said that the Makkah Defence Alliance — a tripartite agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye — has no “regional aspirations”, adding that it is intended for collective deterrence. The military spokesperson made the remarks during an interview on Al Arabiya English ’s ‘Global News…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "DG ISPR says Pakistan confident in its defence capabilities",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/dg-ispr-says-pakistan-confident-in-its-defence-capabilities",
        "published": "2026-09-16T05:07:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn - Pakistan",
        "title": "DG ISPR says Makkah defence pact has 'no regional aspirations', intended for collective deterrence",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/dg-ispr-says-makkah-defence-pact-has-no-regional-aspirations-intended",
        "published": "2026-09-16T05:32:26.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}