Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar signaled that Pakistan’s landmark defense pact with Saudi Arabia may pave the way for similar agreements with other countries in the region, with an interest already expressed by potential partners.
In a talk with journalists in London on Friday, Dar said some nations had shown interest in forging strategic defense partnerships with Pakistan after the recently concluded deal with Saudi Arabia.
“It’s too early to say anything, but after this development, other countries have also expressed a desire for similar events,” he noted. He added that such agreements follow a formal process and recalled that the Saudi deal itself took several months to end.
Dar, who called the defense pact with Saudi Arabia a “historic milestone,” Dar said that understanding is formalizing what had long been an implicit expectation in Pakistan – protects the kingdom and especially the holiness of Harmin Sharifain.
He added that both countries were satisfied with the agreement, and reiterated that Saudi Arabia had consistently supported Pakistan in times of crisis, especially in recent years in the midst of economic and geopolitical challenges.
In an interview with Arab media, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that the agreement with Riyadh could be expanded to include other golf nations, adding that the event is expected to go beyond traditional bilateral cooperation. He described the pact as a reflection of mutual trust and a common commitment to regional security.
ASIF clarified that the agreement does not contain any secret clauses and includes provisions on joint education and technical cooperation.
He said the framework ensures collective security, where aggression against one signator would be considered aggression against the other. “Given today’s increasingly tense global environment, such agreements are important,” he noted.
He emphasized that the countries in the Middle East must reduce the dependence on distant foreign powers to their defense and work to build original capabilities.
“They have to develop into self-help nations with the ability to defend themselves,” he said, adding that if other Arab countries signalize interest, Pakistan would be open to expand the covenant beyond Saudi Arabia.
