Regarding Bangladesh’s potential participation in the Makkah Pact, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, stated that India is closely monitoring all developments. He emphasized that India prioritizes its security in all matters. He made these remarks on Friday while responding to journalists’ questions during the ministry’s weekly briefing in New Delhi. During the briefing, a journalist asked about Bangladesh’s interest in joining the Makkah Pact. The journalist noted that Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Humayun Kabir, had initially expressed interest in the agreement. On the previous Thursday, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman also described the pact positively, stating that if expanded, it would serve as a mechanism for the self-defense of the global Muslim community. He remarked that this is an internal matter for the Muslim family of nations, leaving no room for concern among others.
Regarding the Makkah Pact, the Foreign Minister further added, “We view this pact positively. The question of joining or not joining has not yet arisen, as it depends on the intentions of the pact’s members. If they express an intention to include Bangladesh in the pact, we will certainly consider it positively.”
The journalist sought to know India’s stance on this matter. In response, Jaiswal said, “We are closely monitoring all developments, especially those concerning India’s security. We take all necessary measures to ensure our security.” Questions were also raised during the briefing regarding recent attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. Noting that two families had recently been attacked and members killed—and questioning whether the Bangladesh government was taking appropriate action—the journalist asked if this was a cause for concern for India. In his reply, Randhir Jaiswal made no adverse comments against the Bangladesh government. He simply stated that handling the law-and-order situation is the responsibility of the Bangladesh government and that they should fulfill that responsibility.
