India on Tuesday said it was assessing the implications of the newly signed defence agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye for its national security as well as regional peace and stability, asserting that it would take all necessary steps to protect its interests.
The three countries signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7 following a meeting involving Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The agreement expands on the bilateral mutual defence pact signed by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in September last year.
Responding to questions on the trilateral agreement, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi was closely monitoring developments against the backdrop of the continuing conflict in West Asia.
“As far as this particular agreement is concerned, we are examining its implications, both from the perspective of our national security, as well as considerations of regional peace and stability,” Jaiswal said.
He added that India remained committed to protecting its national interests and would take all necessary measures in this regard.
New Delhi had expressed similar concerns when Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed their mutual defence agreement in September 2025, saying at the time that India would take steps to safeguard its interests and ensure national security across all domains.
According to a joint statement issued by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, the new agreement is based on their shared strategic interests and longstanding defence cooperation.
A key provision of the pact treats an armed attack against any one of the three countries as an attack against all three. The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence while expanding defence cooperation among the participating countries.
The three governments have maintained that the agreement is aimed at promoting collective security as well as peace and stability in the region.
The development comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions in West Asia and growing defence cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Jaiswal also responded to questions about events held in different parts of the world in support of the “independence” of Pakistan’s Balochistan province and recent violent protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The MEA spokesperson called on the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for alleged human rights abuses and violations in PoK and other parts of the country.
Referring to recent protests in PoK linked to elections to the local assembly, Jaiswal said public discontent had been met with repression and violence. According to him, more than 90 people were killed and many others injured during the unrest.
The MEA also made it clear that India's broader policy towards Pakistan remained unchanged despite the latest regional developments.
Jaiswal reiterated New Delhi’s position on cross-border terrorism, saying there was no ambiguity about where responsibility lay for ending such activities.
The remarks indicate that India is closely evaluating how the emerging Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-Türkiye security arrangement could affect the regional strategic balance, particularly at a time of continuing instability in West Asia.