Saudi Defense Pact Took Months of Negotiations, Not Overnight: Ishaq Dar
LONDON: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar clarified that the recently finalized strategic defense cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia was not concluded overnight but took several months of negotiations. Speaking to the media in London, Dar said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have historically maintained a mutual defense understanding, and the latest…
LONDON: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar clarified that the recently finalized strategic defense cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia was not concluded overnight but took several months of negotiations.
Speaking to the media in London, Dar said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have historically maintained a mutual defense understanding, and the latest agreement is a continuation of that longstanding partnership.
When asked about the possibility of other countries joining the pact, Dar noted it was “too early to comment,” though he acknowledged that “some states have expressed interest.”
Dar emphasized that both Islamabad and Riyadh are “satisfied” with the agreement. He thanked Saudi Arabia for its consistent support, recalling that the Kingdom stood by Pakistan during times of sanctions, the IMF bailout process, and the ongoing economic crisis.
“Saudi Arabia has always helped Pakistan in difficult times,” Dar reiterated, underscoring the depth of bilateral ties between the two Muslim-majority states.
