India-Pakistan war concerns raised in Turkish Parliament as Mecca pact gets approved

The Turkish Parliament approved the pact on Thursday by 279 votes to 119 despite opposition objections. Turkish officials said deploying troops would still require a separate parliamentary vote.

In Short

• Troop deployments would still require a separate vote by Turkish Parliament
• The agreement covers intelligence sharing, military cooperation and defence-industry ties
• Riyadh seeks broader security partnerships while reducing its dependence on Washington

If India attacks Pakistan, must Turkey go to war? Turkish opposition MP Gulistan Kilic Kocyigit raised that question in Parliament, warning that a defence pact with Islamabad and Saudi Arabia could draw Ankara into a conflict it had not chosen.

“Will it be considered an attack on us?” she asked, referring to a hypothetical Indian attack on Pakistan. Her concern centred on the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement’s commitment to treat an attack on one member as an attack on all three.

The Turkish Parliament approved the pact on Thursday by 279 votes to 119 despite opposition objections. Turkish officials said deploying troops would still require a separate parliamentary vote.

‘HOW DO YOU DECIDE ON THIS?’

Kocyigit, deputy parliamentary group leader of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party, or DEM Party, pointed to the history of conflict between India and Pakistan and their nuclear arsenals.

She questioned who would decide Turkey’s response if Pakistan sought assistance.

“If we are going to enter, how do you decide on this?” she asked. “The parliament did not decide on this, the people did not decide on this.”

Her warning extends beyond the Middle Eastern security concerns driving the pact. A request from Pakistan during a conflict with India would require Turkey to weigh its defence commitments against the risks of involvement. That would not automatically mean joining the fighting, but Turkey could face pressure to provide military assistance.

PACT APPROVED BUT TROOPS NEED CLEARANCE

Signed in August, the 16-article agreement covers collective defence, intelligence sharing, military cooperation and defence-industry ties.

Fuat Oktay, chairman of Parliament’s foreign affairs committee and a member of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party, said Turkey would “not be drawn into an uncontrolled process against its will”.

He said troop deployments would need parliamentary approval. Turkish officials have described the pact as defensive and said troops would not be sent to fight in Yemen or attack the Houthis.

Parliament would retain control over deployments, while other assistance could include equipment, intelligence or technical support.

WHAT COMES NEXT FOR THE PACT?

Saudi Arabia is seeking greater regional support against attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, amid fears of renewed escalation in the US-Iran war.

Riyadh also wants to broaden its security partnerships and reduce its dependence on Washington. For Turkey, the pact strengthens cooperation with Saudi Arabia after years of strained relations.

Opposition lawmaker Murat Emir accused the government of preparing to send Turkish soldiers to Yemen.

“They brought this agreement to send Turkish soldiers to the deserts of Yemen,” he said.

Kocyigit also questioned whether the grouping was being positioned against Iran, which shares a border with Turkey. Turkish and Pakistani officials have said the pact does not target Iran or any other country.

The three members agreed in September to begin implementing their collective-defence commitments, including arrangements for the rapid deployment of agreed military forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia. Details were not disclosed.

Saudi Arabia is therefore likely to provide the pact’s first test. The assistance Turkey agrees to provide could indicate how Ankara would handle a similar request from Pakistan.

- Ends