Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has called for stronger cooperation among Muslim countries, urging the “Islamic NATO” to deal with challenges from India and Israel. His remark came a day after Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on Friday.

Pak Minister Calls Terrorism A 'Shared Threat'

In an interview with a Pakistani news channel, Asif called terrorism a “shared threat” for Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan. Levelling accusations against India, the minister said, “Indian-backed elements operating from Afghanistan drive terrorist activities against Pakistan.” Asif said the current conflicts in the region, including the recent military confrontation with India, should be dealt with through official channels rather than through public and media debates.

Khawaja Asif Calls For NATO-Like Muslim Alliance

He further called for the creation of a NATO-like Muslim alliance, arguing that countries should put aside their differences and work together as one defensive alliance. Asif said, “Muslim nations need to create an expansive alliance structured similarly to NATO…Member states must bypass bilateral disputes to form a unified defensive block.”

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Asif also spoke about the ongoing conflict in West Asia, stating that the tensions showed the need for greater cooperation among Muslim countries. “The establishment of Israel and its ongoing policies require a unified response from Islamic nation," he said. “Normalising relations with Israel offers no benefit to Muslim nations,” Asif added.

Makkah Joint Defence Agreement

Notably, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on Friday signed a joint defence agreement under which an attack against any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against them all, amid escalating tensions in West Asia. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the "Makkah Joint Defence Agreement" during a meeting at Al-Safa Palace in Mecca.

India also reacted to the trilateral defence agreement, stating that New Delhi has been closely monitoring the deal. "This is also a development that we are closely following, and we shall keep you updated," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during the weekly press briefing.

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