Mapusa, Sept. 13 -- Former Minister of State for External Affairs, MJ Akbar, took a swipe at the Mecca Defence Pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye amid reports of Riyadh approaching the United States after strikes by Yemen's Houthis.

Speaking to ANI, MJ Akbar asked why Saudi Arabia did not approach Pakistan or Turkiye. Taking a dig at Islamabad, he said that the Pakistani Army backed away.

The former minister suggested that Saudi Arabia instead look towards BRICS, which in its New Delhi Declaration under India's chairship has called for peace in the region.

Akbar said, "Just a day before, the Saudi prince, who is the effective ruler of Saudi Arabia, telephoned US President Trump to seek American armed help against the Houth...