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India on Friday said it was closely following developments in West Asia when asked about reports that Bangladesh is keen to join the recently signed Mecca Defence Pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.
Responding to a question on Bangladesh's reported interest in joining the trilateral defence pact, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India was monitoring developments in the region. "We continue to closely follow developments that are happening in West Asia. This is what I have to say at this point in time," Jaiswal said during a media briefing. The MEA's response comes after Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir said in an interview that Dhaka was open to joining the Mecca pact. The Mecca Defence Pact was signed on August 7 by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Mecca. The agreement seeks to strengthen collective deterrence and defence cooperation among the three countries. It stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three signatories would be regarded as an attack against all three. The pact was concluded amid heightened tensions and conflicts across West Asia, with the region facing multiple security challenges and growing geopolitical uncertainty. Last week, the MEA had said India was examining the implications of the agreement from the perspective of national security as well as regional peace and stability. "Regarding the agreement that was signed recently, let me say that we continue to closely follow developments in the West Asia conflict. 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 stability, peace and stability," Jaiswal had said. He had further asserted that India remained committed to safeguarding its national interests and would take all necessary measures in this regard. Meanwhile, responding to a separate question regarding the proposed visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to India, Jaiswal said the ministry had no update to share at present. "I would like to say that I have nothing to say on this for now. If I have any update, I will share it with you," he said. On the Ganga Water Treaty, the MEA spokesperson said the agreement was signed in 1996 for a period of 30 years and that related matters are discussed at the technical level through the Joint Rivers Commission. "It was signed in 1996 for 30 years. All such issues are discussed at the technical level through the Joint Rivers Commission," Jaiswal said. The Ganga Water Treaty governs the sharing of Ganga waters between India and Bangladesh and is due for review as the 30-year term approaches its conclusion in December this year. (ANI)
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