By Shumaila Aslam
Bureau Chief Pakistan
Snn News Finland
Talks Building on 2023 Military Cooperation Deal
Pakistan and Kuwait are negotiating an expanded defense pact that would significantly deepen military ties between the two countries. The negotiations were reported by Reuters, citing five sources with knowledge of the talks.
Since 2023, Kuwait and Pakistan have operated under a narrower military arrangement centered mainly on training programs and joint drills.
It is now seeking a stronger commitment from Islamabad, similar in scale to Pakistan’s existing defense pact with Saudi Arabia.
What Kuwait Is Requesting
Kuwait’s requests reportedly include thousands of Pakistani troops stationed on the ground, along with fighter jets, drones, an air defense system, and other defense-related facilities, according to a Pakistani government official.
A Pakistani security official described the scope of Kuwait’s demands bluntly, saying Kuwait’s wish list includes everything.
That said, the official made clear that sending combat forces is not currently on the table.
Early-Stage Talks Amid Regional Uncertainty
The talks remain at an early stage and could be complicated by heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.
A Reuters report also noted mounting concerns in Islamabad that its mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia, signed last year, could draw Pakistan into the US-Iran conflict.
A Middle Eastern source separately confirmed that Kuwait has held discussions with Pakistan on defense procurement, though it remains unclear whether this will result in a formal defense pact.
Pakistan’s military media wing and Kuwait’s information ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
Energy Cooperation Part of the Package
Alongside the defense discussions, Pakistan is negotiating the expanded pact in exchange for energy cooperation and investment from Kuwait.
The two sides are reportedly examining the possibility of establishing a fuel storage facility in Kuwait, building on an existing diesel supply agreement between the countries.
Officials indicated that negotiations are expected to accelerate once tensions between the United States and Iran subside.
Regional Context
The talks come against the backdrop of a wider security realignment in the Gulf.
Pakistan and several Gulf states have increasingly viewed regional Defense Pact agreements as a way to reduce reliance on traditional security arrangements, with Pakistan’s large military and domestic fighter jet manufacturing capacity positioning it as a potential alternative to US protection.
Kuwait has faced direct fallout from the broader US-Iran conflict, including strikes on its territory earlier this year, underscoring the urgency behind its push for stronger defense guarantees.
Pakistan’s defense pact with Saudi Arabia
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