- 2023 pact to deepen military ties through training, joint exercises, expertise-sharing and expanded institutional cooperation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has welcomed Kuwait’s ratification of a 2023 defence cooperation agreement, describing the development as an important milestone in the longstanding security partnership between the two countries.
In a statement responding to media queries on Wednesday, Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Tahir Andrabi said the ratification reflected the shared commitment of Pakistan and Kuwait to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and elevate their broader security partnership.
Agreement Strengthens Institutional Defence Ties
According to the Foreign Office, the agreement provides a comprehensive institutional framework for expanding cooperation between the two countries’ armed forces.
The pact covers areas including military training, joint exercises, exchange of expertise and other mutually agreed fields of defence cooperation.
The Foreign Office said the agreement would strengthen institutional linkages between the armed forces of Pakistan and Kuwait while consolidating the close defence relationship that has developed over several decades.
Pakistan, Kuwait Reaffirm Commitment to Regional Stability
Dr Andrabi said Pakistan and Kuwait would continue working closely to implement the agreement in accordance with its provisions.
The two sides aim to expand bilateral defence collaboration and further strengthen their partnership based on mutual trust, shared interests and close institutional cooperation, while contributing to peace, security and stability in the region.
The Foreign Office described the defence relationship as a longstanding partnership between the two “brotherly countries,” dating back to the early 1980s.
Ishaq Dar Holds Talks with Kuwaiti Counterpart
The announcement followed a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, in Islamabad earlier Wednesday.
During the meeting, Dar welcomed Kuwait’s ratification of the agreement, noting that it represented an important step forward in bilateral defence relations and would further strengthen institutional cooperation between the two militaries.
Agreement Signed in Kuwait in 2023
The defence cooperation agreement was signed on June 11, 2023, at Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence.
Pakistan was represented by then-Ambassador Malik Muhammad Farooq, while Kuwait was represented by Brigadier General Fawaz Khudair Muhammad Al-Harbi, Joint Planning Director at the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defence, according to the Foreign Office.
Defence Cooperation Linked to Broader Bilateral Engagement
The ratification comes amid broader efforts by Pakistan and Kuwait to expand bilateral cooperation in strategic sectors.
Reuters reported earlier this month, citing five sources familiar with the discussions, that Pakistan had been negotiating an expanded defence agreement with Kuwait alongside efforts to deepen cooperation in energy and investment.
The latest development is therefore expected to provide fresh momentum to Pakistan-Kuwait relations, particularly in defence and security cooperation, while creating opportunities for closer engagement across other areas of mutual interest.
BY: The Times Union
