The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, ISHAQ Dar, said that Pakistan’s historic defense pact with Saudi Arabia can pave the way for similar agreements with other countries in the region, and potential partners already expressed interests.
Speaking to journalists in London on Friday, GIV said that some nations had shown interest in forging strategic defense associations with Pakistan after a recently concluded agreement with Saudi Arabia.
“It is premature to say something, but after this development, other countries have also expressed their desire for similar arrangements,” he said. He added that such agreements follow a formal process and recalled that the Saudi agreement itself took several months to end.
By calling the defense pact with Saudi Arabia, a “historical milestone” said that understanding formalizes what had long been an implicit expectation in Pakistan, protecting the kingdom and particularly the holiness of Harmain Sharifain.
He added that both countries were satisfied with the agreement and reiterated that Saudi Arabia had constantly supported Pakistan in times of crisis, particularly in recent years in the midst of economic and geopolitical challenges.
Meanwhile, in an interview with the Arab media, the Minister of Defense, Khawaja Asif, confirmed that the agreement with Riad could be extended to include other nations of the Gulf, and added that the agreement is expected to go beyond traditional bilateral cooperation. He described the pact as a reflection of mutual trust and a shared commitment to regional security.
Asif clarified that the agreement does not contain any secret clause and includes provisions for joint training and technical cooperation.
He said that the framework ensures collective security, where aggression against a signatory would be considered aggression against the other. “Given the increasingly tense global environment, such agreements are essential,” he said.
He stressed that the Middle East countries should reduce the dependence of distant foreign powers for their defense and work to build indigenous abilities.
“They must evolve to self -sufficient nations with the ability to defend themselves,” he said, adding that if other Arab countries indicate interest, Pakistan would be open to extend the pact beyond Saudi Arabia.
