Editorial: Mecca pact — shifting sands, moving goalpostsIndia cannot afford to view the Mecca defence pact as mere symbolism; it could strengthen Pakistan’s strategic position and require sustained diplomatic engagement with Riyadh and AnkaraBy Telangana Today Published Date - 10 August 2026, 10:44 PMIllustration: GuruGThe timing and context of the NATO-style defence agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan raise curiosity among geopolitical observers. In September 2025, a few weeks after Israel bombed Qatar, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia announced a bilateral defence agreement. For India, the most consequential piece of this pact is not Saudi Arabia or Turkey individually but what it does for Pakistan’s strategic position. Even without a confirmed nuclear umbrella, the pact gives Pakistan diplomatic cover, potential access to Gulf financing and Turkish military hardware, and a psychological sense of insulation. India’s substantial economic leverage with Saudi Arabia gives it real room to shape how Riyadh calibrates its role.