Pakistan may expand defense pact with Saudi Arabia to include Turkey and Qatar, minister says
Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said the country may expand its strategic mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia to include Turkey and Qatar. The deal, signed in September 2025, aims to reduce dependence on outside powers and bolster regional stability. Asif described the potential expansion as part of a new order in economy and defense.
Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said the country may expand its strategic mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia to include Turkey and Qatar, according to an interview published Wednesday by Pakistan’s Hum News.
Islamabad and Riyadh signed the deal in September 2025. Asif described the agreement as a regulation for the future and signaled the potential for a broader grouping.
“If Qatar and Türkiye become a part of this agreement, it will be a good development,” Asif said. “This would mean a new order in the economy and defense to minimize dependence outside the region. This initiative aims to create a broader cooperation platform between like-minded states to reinforce regional stability and collective security.”
Asif added that the agreement is not directed against any party. “I believe that this agreement does not counter anyone, and it is ultimately for peace,” he said.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed earlier in 2026 that Turkey was exploring a trilateral defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Fidan has previously signaled that rising tensions in the region, including the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, are likely to shape Gulf countries’ future security strategies, with Turkey emerging as a potential key partner in defense and military cooperation.
The Daily Sabah reported the story on May 13, 2026.