DPM Dar:Pak-Saudi Defence Pact Could Expand to Eastern Nato

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the defence pact with Saudi Arabia could grow into an Eastern NATO. He told the National Assembly that more countries want to join the agreement. The pact, signed on September 17, means an attack on one country is an attack on both. Dar said this pact holds great significance for Pakistan and its partners.

Dar added that several Arab and Muslim nations have shown interest in signing similar defence agreements with Pakistan. He expressed confidence that the pact could expand to include other countries. This expansion could create a powerful coalition of Muslim nations. Dar declared Pakistan’s ambition to lead 57 Islamic countries in such a coalition. He stressed the pact’s importance, especially after India’s recent aggression toward Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Dar distanced Pakistan from the 20-point Gaza peace plan announced by former US President Donald Trump. He said the public plan differed from the version Pakistan and other Muslim countries proposed. The Trump plan includes a ceasefire, hostage exchanges, and phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Pakistan rejected the plan because it did not fully reflect Muslim countries’ concerns. Dar clarified that Pakistan’s suggestions were altered in Trump’s public draft.

During the National Assembly session, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser criticized Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for supporting Trump’s peace plan. Qaiser said the agreement ignored Palestinian voices and should be rejected. He accused the prime minister of accepting the plan’s conditions before the details were released. Qaiser demanded an apology from Sharif for this “injustice” toward Palestinians. He also questioned why the government approved the plan without parliamentary discussion.

In summary, Pakistan’s defence pact with Saudi Arabia aims to build a strong Muslim coalition. At the same time, Pakistan distances itself from the US-backed Gaza peace plan. Opposition leaders warn against excluding Palestinians from peace talks. The debate highlights Pakistan’s complex position on regional security and diplomacy.