India is closely monitoring Bangladesh’s position on the Mecca Pact, including the possibility of Dhaka joining the agreement, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
Jaiswal made the remarks on Friday (August 28) in response to questions from journalists during the Indian Ministry of External Affairs’ weekly media briefing in New Delhi.
A journalist asked about Bangladesh’s reported interest in joining the Mecca Pact, noting that Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs-1 Humayun Kabir had earlier expressed interest in joining the agreement.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman later described the pact positively, saying that if it is expanded as a mechanism for the self-defence of the global Muslim community, it would be an internal matter among Muslim countries and should not be a cause of concern for other countries.
Rahman also said Bangladesh had not yet formally decided to join the pact. However, if the member states express a positive intention to include Bangladesh, Dhaka would consider the matter seriously, he said.
Asked about India’s position on the foreign minister’s remarks, Jaiswal said New Delhi was closely monitoring all developments, particularly those that could have implications for India’s national security.
“We are closely watching all kinds of developments, especially if they are related to India’s national security,” Jaiswal said, adding that India takes all necessary measures to safeguard its security.
During the same briefing, Jaiswal was also asked about recent attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh and measures taken by the Bangladesh government in response.
He did not make any critical or confrontational remarks, instead emphasizing that maintaining law and order and addressing such issues effectively are the internal responsibilities of the Bangladesh government.
Jaiswal said Bangladesh should properly fulfill that responsibility.
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