Pakistan Floats Expansion Of Defence Pact With Saudi Arabia To Include Wider Islamic World

Last Updated:January 20, 2026, 09:35 IST

Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif warned that the Islamic world risks strategic vulnerability if it remains fragmented

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif (Image: AP/file)

Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif has signalled a potential expansion of the existing strategic defence relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, calling for a broader collective security framework involving other Muslim-majority countries. Speaking on regional security challenges, Asif emphasised that the Islamic world must move toward deeper defence and strategic cooperation to counter emerging threats.

The defence minister stated that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia could mutually decide to expand their current strategic mutual defence agreement and develop formal terms of reference that would allow other countries to join the pact. According to Asif, nations such as Turkey and other willing Muslim states could become part of this expanded defence arrangement, transforming it into a wider multilateral alliance.

Highlighting what he described as a rising “Zionist threat", Asif warned that the Islamic world risks strategic vulnerability if it remains fragmented. He stressed that the time has come for Muslim nations to enter into a comprehensive defence and strategic agreement to avoid being politically or militarily weakened in the future.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to the security of the Muslim world, Asif said Islamabad stands ready to play a leading role in shaping a collective defence framework. He underscored that unity, shared strategic planning, and mutual defence cooperation are essential for safeguarding the interests and sovereignty of Islamic nations in an increasingly volatile global environment.

At present, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia already cooperate closely on military training and advisory roles, intelligence sharing, defence production and arms cooperation, and strategic consultations.

Why The Push?

Pakistan views the Middle East and South Asia as entering a more volatile phase due to the Gaza war and broader Israel–Middle East tensions, growing Israeli military reach and normalisation with some regional states, Iran–Israel proxy confrontations, and shifting US strategic priorities and reduced direct involvement. From Islamabad’s perspective, Muslim states acting individually are more vulnerable than if they coordinate collectively.

Also, there is no NATO-style collective defence mechanism for Muslim countries. Existing organisations like the OIC are largely diplomatic and lack military enforcement power. Pakistan’s proposal aims to fill this strategic gap, create deterrence through unity rather than confrontation, and reduce reliance on external powers for security.

Pakistan sees itself as well-placed to lead such an initiative because it is the only Muslim-majority country with nuclear weapons, has one of the most experienced militaries in the Islamic world, maintains strong ties with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Gulf states, and has avoided direct involvement in Middle Eastern wars, preserving neutrality. This allows Pakistan to act as a security partner rather than a partisan actor.

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