Islamabad: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Monday that any expansion of the Pakistan–Saudi Arabia defence agreement, including the possible inclusion of other countries, would be decided mutually by Islamabad and Riyadh.
Speaking exclusively to Geo News at Parliament House, Asif said that Turkiye or any other country could become part of the defence arrangement only with the consent of both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
“If both countries agree, Turkiye or any other state can be included in the defence pact,” the defence minister said.
Draft trilateral defence agreement
Asif’s remarks come after Minister for Defence Production Raza Hayat Harraj told Reuters on January 15 that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have prepared a draft defence agreement following nearly a year of negotiations.
Harraj clarified that the proposed trilateral framework is separate from the bilateral Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last year. He added that a final consensus among all three countries is required before the agreement can be concluded.
Earlier, Bloomberg reported that Turkiye was at an advanced stage of talks to join the Pakistan-Saudi SMDA, suggesting the move could lead to a new regional security alignment affecting the balance of power in the Middle East and beyond. However, Pakistani officials have stressed that the new draft remains distinct from the existing bilateral pact.
Pakistan–Turkiye defence ties
Pakistan and Turkiye maintain long-standing defence cooperation, with Ankara constructing corvette warships for the Pakistan Navy, upgrading F-16 fighter jets for the Pakistan Air Force, and supplying drone technology to Islamabad.
Asif said Muslim countries should work towards a broader collective defence framework to safeguard their security.
“This would prevent Muslim countries from being weakened or incapacitated one by one,” he said.
Gaza, Iran and regional issues
Commenting on global developments, Asif termed US President Donald Trump’s reported invitation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to participate in Gaza peace efforts a positive step.
He said Pakistan could play an important role in shaping a future roadmap for Gaza, noting that the international community supports the two-state solution for Palestine.
Describing the situation as a “golden opportunity,” Asif said Pakistan should raise a strong voice for the freedom and rights of the Palestinian people, expressing confidence that PM Shehbaz would advocate forcefully at global forums.
On Iran, the defence minister said Pakistan enjoys exemplary relations with its neighbour, describing Iranians as brothers.
He stressed that Iran harbours no hostile intentions toward other countries and said Pakistan’s consistent position is that Iran’s security must be ensured. He added that Israel is widely perceived as a threat by many nations.