‘3 Flags, 1 Heart’: Pakistan-Saudi-Turkey Defence Pact Anthem Sparks Online Backlash

Pakistan’s Defence Pact Anthem With Saudi Arabia, Turkey Sparks Online Mockery

Pakistan’s attempt to add a patriotic touch to its new defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey has drawn widespread ridicule online, with social media users questioning the need for an elaborate anthem to promote the pact.

Days after the three countries signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, which has been described by some as an “Islamic NATO”, Islamabad’s military media wing released a seven-minute music video celebrating the alliance.

Instead of relying on conventional diplomatic messaging, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) presented the agreement through a cinematic anthem featuring political leaders, military hardware and religious imagery. The video quickly became a target of memes, parody clips and criticism on social media.

‘One Shield’ Anthem Released By ISPR

Titled “ONE SHIELD – Pakistan – Saudi Arabia – Turkiye”, the video carries the subtitle “The Great Alliance of Islam” and is also referred to as “We Are All One”.

Released on August 7, the video opens with images of the leaders of the three countries — Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The central theme revolves around their shared Islamic identity, with the anthem highlighting the phrase: “One God, One Prophet, One Holy Quran, One Qibla, Three Flags, One Heart.”

The video also showcases the military capabilities of the three countries. Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, Turkish drones, Saudi fighter aircraft and naval vessels feature prominently.

Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir also appears in the video, underlining his prominent role in the newly signed defence arrangement.

Social Media Users Mock Anthem

The dramatic presentation quickly attracted criticism online, with users sharing memes and parody videos while questioning the decision to promote a defence pact through a music video.

One user on X wrote that while Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were signing the agreement, Pakistan’s Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) was “apparently busy making a SONG about it”.

Another user mocked the frequency of such productions, writing that the DG ISPR appeared to have “writers, singers and a full music department ready to drop a new anthem for every occasion.”

A separate post compared living conditions in the three countries, sarcastically pointing to differences in food, homes, healthcare facilities and standards of living.

What Is The Mecca Defence Pact?

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement against the backdrop of heightened tensions in West Asia involving Iran, Israel and the United States.

Under the agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three countries is to be treated as an attack against all three, effectively establishing a mutual defence commitment.

The pact has subsequently attracted attention because of its potential implications for regional security and the broader strategic relationship between Islamabad, Riyadh and Ankara.