MEA calls out 'fake news' over report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pak-Saudi-Turkey deal
New Delhi, August 7
The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday dismissed as 'fake news' reports alleging that India had requested Israel to sign a defence pact in response to the newly formed Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-Turkey security framework.
The assertion originated from Turkish media outlet Straturka before gaining traction across social media platforms. Quoting unnamed Pakistani sources, the report alleged that New Delhi had initiated talks with Tel Aviv for a defence pact to offset the trilateral alliance.
Rebutting the claim, the MEA's Fact Check unit published a screenshot of the article, marking it 'fake news.'
"We caution against such malicious posts on social media platforms which use AI to create fake content!" the MEA Fact Check wing said in a post on X.
The official response follows the signing of the "Mecca Joint Defence Agreement" between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, a pact designed to enhance military synergy and joint security among the signatory states.
Pakistan's foreign ministry stated that the treaty aims to reinforce collective deterrence, noting that "any armed attack against any one of the three States shall be regarded as an attack against them all." The framework additionally outlines expanded defence cooperation across various domains.
Commenting on the trilateral treaty on Friday, the MEA confirmed that New Delhi is observing the situation.
Addressing a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "This is also a development that we are closely following, and we shall keep you updated."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a telephone interaction on Thursday, deliberating on avenues to advance the India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership and reviewing bilateral collaboration across diverse sectors.
During Friday's press briefing, Jaiswal clarified that the call was placed from the Israeli side. "During the conversation, it was discussed as to how we can further strengthen this bond, this friendship that we have with Israel across various sectors," Jaiswal said, underscoring the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Our relationship with Israel is strong and long-standing, regardless of what Turkey-based media reports claim. PM Modi and Netanyahu's conversation shows the trust between the two nations. Pakistan can make whatever pacts they want, but India's defence capabilities stand on their own merit. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
These fake news outlets are just trying to create unnecessary tension. India's foreign policy is mature enough to handle such regional developments without panicking. Let them form their alliances - India will continue to follow its independent path and strengthen ties with all nations based on mutual respect and benefit.
I appreciate the MEA being transparent and calling out this fake report. It's concerning how easily misinformation spreads these days. However, I do wish our government would provide more detailed briefings on such strategic matters rather than just confirming they're "closely following" the situation. More transparency would help build public trust. 🤔
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey is worth monitoring. These aren't exactly lightweight players in the Islamic world. While the MEA's response is reassuring, we should also be careful - sometimes official denials can be part of diplomatic posturing. Let's hope our intelligence agencies are on top of this.
As someone who follows Indian foreign policy closely, this seems like standard disinformation tactics from Turkish media. India has always maintained strategic autonomy and won't be easily rattled by such trilateral pacts. The India-Israel partnership is based on mutual interests, not reactive measures to Pakistan's moves.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.