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'We will tear you to pieces': Indian general warns Erdogan about pact with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Retired Indian Maj.-Gen. Gagan Deep Bakshi warned that an alignment of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan poses a strategic threat to India.
  • Bakshi described this emerging bloc as a

Retired Indian Maj.-Gen. Gagan Deep Bakshi has warned that the growing alignment between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan constitutes a strategic threat to India. Bakshi described this emerging bloc as a "Sunni NATO" in the Middle East, which he views with significant concern from India's perspective.

A Sunni NATO comprising Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan has been established in the Middle East, in Mecca, and that is a serious cause for concern.

โ€” Gagan Deep BakshiDescribing the emerging regional alignment.

Bakshi emphasized the importance of Iran as a counterweight to Pakistan, India's primary security concern. He noted that while Iran is perceived as an existential threat to Israel, Pakistan, a "fundamentalist, jihadist Islamic state" possessing nuclear weapons, is not viewed with the same level of concern by Israel, despite posing a direct threat to India.

We very much need Shi'ite Iran to be on our side because Pakistan is our primary security headache. China may be the main threat, but together with it, Pakistan is our biggest security headache.

โ€” Gagan Deep BakshiExplaining the strategic importance of Iran for India.

He cited Turkey's past assistance to Pakistan, including the supply of nearly 1,000 unmanned aerial vehicles during Operation Sindoor, as evidence of an existing practical alliance between the two nations. Bakshi also pointed to Turkey sending a warship to Karachi during that confrontation as further proof of close security ties.

Iran does not have even a single nuclear bomb, and yet it is perceived as an existential threat to Israel. And what about Pakistan? A fundamentalist, jihadist Islamic state that possesses 180 nuclear warheads.

โ€” Gagan Deep BakshiComparing the perceived threats from Iran and Pakistan.

Bakshi issued a direct warning to Turkey, stating that the Indian Navy "will tear you to pieces" if any Turkish armada attempts to aid Pakistan in a conflict. He also conveyed a message to Israel, asserting that India's alliance with Israel is important but will not come at the expense of its ties with Iran, especially given Pakistan's nuclear capabilities. India will not sacrifice its interests with Iran simply because of the war between Jerusalem and Tehran.

We have not seen Israel losing sleep over the bombs in Pakistan's hands because they are considered a threat only to India.

โ€” Gagan Deep BakshiHighlighting Israel's lack of concern over Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.