If more nations join Pakistan-Saudi defence pact, it will become NATO-like alliance: Ishaq Dar

Islamabad: Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar Friday claimed that many countries have shown interest in entering a defence pact with Islamabad and suggested that if more nations join the Saudi-Pakistan mutual defence agreement, then "this will become a NATO-like alliance." Addressing the parliament on the issue of the recent Gaza peace plan announced by President Donald Trump, Dar also talked about the "Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement" officially signed with Saudi Arabia on September 18.

He said that several countries, both Arab and non-Arab Islamic nations, had shown interest in joining the defence agreement agreed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.  "Many other countries have shown interest in entering a defence pact with Pakistan, with many states approaching Pakistan during the UN General Assembly,” he said.

He suggested that if more countries join, then "this will become a NATO-like alliance." The deputy prime minister further said that the pact could expand to include other countries, potentially transforming it into a "new NATO or Eastern NATO".

He expressed confidence that Pakistan will one day lead the Islamic world. “By God’s Will, Pakistan will lead 57 Islamic nations,” he said.

He emphasised that while Pakistan is already a nuclear and missile power, it must now strive to become an economic power as well, an ambition achievable only through collective effort.

Talking about the deal made with the Saudi government, Dar said that Pakistan has had a sustained and deep relationship with the Gulf Kingdom and that this defence pact had been in the works for a very long time.

"This is an extremely important agreement; it was not made blindly or hastily," he said.

The finer details about the pact have not been shared, but the joint statement issued after the signing ceremony stated that "any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both." Recalling the four-day conflict with India in May, Dar said that under the defence pact, such strikes on Pakistan would have been considered as an attack on Saudi Arabia.

The pack was signed days after Israel attacked Qatar, creating panic among the Arab nations of a similar attack.