World · Bangladesh Bureau
India monitoring Bangladesh stance on Mecca Pact: Jaiswal
India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has said New Delhi is closely tracking developments regarding Bangladesh's potential membership in the Islamic military alliance, commonly known as the Mecca Pact. The comments come as regional nations reassess their positions on various multilateral security arrangements.
LSN Bangladesh ·
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated on Tuesday that his government is monitoring all developments related to Bangladesh's potential participation in the Mecca Pact, a military alliance established among Islamic nations. When questioned about the issue, Misri emphasized India's attentive stance toward the matter without elaborating on New Delhi's specific concerns or expectations.
The Mecca Pact, formally known as the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, was established in 2015 with Saudi Arabia as a leading member. The alliance brings together numerous Muslim-majority countries for joint counter-terrorism operations and security coordination. Bangladesh's possible membership would represent a significant expansion of the organization's presence in South Asia, where India maintains substantial strategic interests.
The statement reflects India's broader engagement with Bangladesh on regional security matters. As neighboring nations with extensive bilateral ties spanning defense, trade, and cultural exchanges, developments affecting Bangladesh's external alignments typically draw attention from New Delhi's foreign policy establishment.
No official announcement regarding Bangladesh's membership status has been made by Bangladeshi authorities. The comments by the Indian Foreign Secretary suggest that New Delhi intends to closely observe how the situation unfolds in coming weeks and months.