Sadik Sagar, Dhaka:
Bangladesh’s positive view of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement has drawn contrasting reactions from India and Pakistan. The pact highlights the diplomatic sensitivity surrounding Dhaka’s possible participation in the emerging security framework.
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan signed the agreement in Makkah on August 7. Under the pact, an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be treated as an attack on all three. The agreement also aims to strengthen defense cooperation and collective deterrence among the three countries.
Bangladesh has not yet made any formal decision to join the pact. However, Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir have indicated that Dhaka views the arrangement positively. They would consider joining if an invitation is extended by the existing members.
Pakistan has welcomed Bangladesh’s interest. Its Foreign Ministry described the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement as a defensive framework intended to safeguard peace and promote regional stability. Islamabad also said the framework could remain open to countries that share its commitments to collective security, although its operationalization is still at an early stage.
India, meanwhile, is closely following developments. Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the pact has security implications for India and that New Delhi continues to monitor developments affecting its national security.
The different reactions reflect the broader strategic significance of Bangladesh’s possible involvement. For Dhaka, joining the arrangement could strengthen defense and strategic cooperation with Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan. At the same time, it could introduce new sensitivities into Bangladesh’s relations with India.
Foreign Minister Khalilur has sought to play down concerns, describing the pact as an internal matter among Muslim-majority countries. He also said it would be premature to assess the advantages or disadvantages of joining before any formal invitation is received.
The issue comes as Bangladesh pursues its “Bangladesh First” foreign policy, emphasizing sovereign equality, national dignity, non-interference, and mutual benefit in relations with other countries.
The immediate focus, therefore, is whether Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan decide to expand the framework. Until then, Bangladesh appears to be keeping its options open while assessing the regional security and diplomatic implications of the Makkah pact.
