The talks between Pakistan and Kuwait are expected to gain momentum once tensions between the US and Iran ease. Credit: em_concepts / Shutterstock.com
Pakistan and Kuwait are in discussions over a broadened defence arrangement that could also cover energy collaboration and investment, Reuters reported, citing unnamed sources.
The negotiations remain at an early stage and may be affected by rising tension between the US and Iran.
Kuwait wants Islamabad to demonstrate a similar level of military commitment to the mutual defence agreement Pakistan struck with Saudi Arabia last year, a Pakistani government official told Reuters.
That would involve stationing thousands of Pakistani soldiers in Kuwait, along with fighter aircraft, drones, an air defence system and other military infrastructure.
Pakistan and Kuwait have maintained a narrower defence arrangement covering training and joint military exercises since 2023.
Reuters noted it is not yet certain whether Pakistan would agree to such an extensive commitment, given that its pact with Saudi Arabia was built on a long-standing relationship with Riyadh going back decades.
“Kuwait’s wish list includes everything. But let me be clear about one thing: We are not and we cannot consider a deployment of combat troops at this stage,” a Pakistani security official familiar with the discussions said.
A source in the Middle East said that talks between Kuwait and Pakistan were taking place, including around defence procurement, but added it was “not clear this will amount to a defence pact per se”.
On the energy front, Pakistan is seeking cooperation as part of a broader effort by its energy ministry to strengthen oil and fuel reserves.
Kuwait, meanwhile, is looking at a bonded fuel storage arrangement with Pakistan, which would extend an existing government-to-government diesel supply agreement between the two nations.
Pakistan and Gulf nations have increasingly explored new regional defence agreements over the past year, as Gulf states have grown more cautious about depending on the US.
Separately, Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are working on a draft agreement for another mutual defence pact, while Bahrain has shown interest in a comparable arrangement and Jordan has signalled interest in a deal covering weapons and training.
