Islamabad: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said Turkey and Qatar are expected to join the mutual security agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
NATO, the Western military alliance, has 32 members and treats an attack on one member as an attack on all, triggering a collective response. On similar lines, efforts are under way for Islamic countries to come together under a large defence grouping.
According to the report, the Pakistan–Saudi agreement signed last year is being projected as the foundation for this proposed bloc. Talks for Turkey and Qatar—both West Asian countries—to join are said to have reached the final stage, with Pakistan describing it as more than a symbolic arrangement and as a “mega alliance” combining the strengths of the four nations.
International affairs experts cited in the report link the push for a new alignment to the aftermath of US and Israeli strikes on Iran, arguing that the countries involved now feel a stronger need for collective security.
The development is also being closely watched in India’s security circles, the report notes, as Turkey has voiced support for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. There are concerns that if India undertakes any military action against Pakistan, the pact could enable other members to intervene under the banner of a collective response.
