Fri Oct 03 16:11:51 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announced that several countries have expressed interest in joining a mutual defence pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Dar suggests that if more nations join this pact, it could evolve into a NATO-like alliance, positioning Pakistan as a leader of the Islamic world. He emphasized the importance of becoming an economic power alongside being a nuclear and missile power. He highlighted that under the pact, aggression against either country would be considered aggression against both, referencing a past conflict with India. The pact was signed shortly after Israel’s attack on Qatar, which caused panic among the Arab nations.
**News Article:**
**Pakistan Eyes NATO-Like Alliance Amid Growing Defence Pact Interest**
Islamabad – October 3, 2025 – Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has revealed that numerous countries have expressed interest in joining the recently established Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Speaking before parliament today, Dar suggested that this growing interest could pave the way for the formation of a NATO-like alliance in the region, potentially placing Pakistan at the forefront of the Islamic world.
“Many countries have shown interest in entering a defence pact with Pakistan,” Dar stated, highlighting that these overtures occurred during the recent UN General Assembly. He elaborated that both Arab and non-Arab Islamic nations have expressed a desire to join the existing agreement.
Signed on September 18, 2025, the pact with Saudi Arabia stipulates that any aggression against either nation will be considered an act of aggression against both. Dar emphasized the significance of this clause, referencing a recent conflict with India in May. He indicated that had the pact been in place then, such attacks on Pakistan would have triggered a response from Saudi Arabia as well.
The agreement was finalized shortly after Israel’s recent attack on Qatar, prompting heightened security concerns among Arab nations.
While the specific details of the Saudi-Pakistan pact remain undisclosed, Dar emphasized that it was carefully considered and planned, representing a deep-rooted and sustained relationship between the two nations.
Beyond defense, Dar stressed the importance of Pakistan achieving economic strength to complement its existing nuclear and missile capabilities. He believes this is achievable through collective effort and cooperation within the potential alliance.
The prospect of a broader defense alliance in the region raises significant geopolitical questions, particularly regarding its potential impact on regional stability and relations with existing global power structures.
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