Pakistan and Kuwait on Wednesday reaffirmed their longstanding relationship and agreed to expand cooperation across trade, energy and defense, as Kuwait ratified the Pakistan-Kuwait Defense Cooperation Agreement signed in 2023.
What is the Pakistan-Kuwait Defense Cooperation Agreement?
The Pakistan-Kuwait Defense Cooperation Agreement is a military pact originally signed in June 2023 that Kuwait has now ratified. It provides an institutional framework for cooperation in military training, joint exercises and the exchange of expertise between the two countries' armed forces.
The ratification came during the official visit of Kuwait's Foreign Minister, Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who held high-level meetings with Pakistan's civilian and military leadership. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar co-chaired delegation-level talks with his Kuwaiti counterpart at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
What did Pakistan and Kuwait agree to during the visit?
Both sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and agreed to broaden cooperation in trade, investment, energy, labor, agriculture, information technology, health, and mining and minerals. Pakistan's Foreign Office said the two countries also discussed deepening economic ties through stronger institutional linkages and regular high-level exchanges.
The Kuwaiti foreign minister thanked Pakistan for its hospitality and acknowledged the country's support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Dar reiterated Pakistan's commitment to the bilateral partnership, and both ministers discussed regional developments, including the situation in the Middle East and Palestine.
What happened during the GHQ meeting?
As part of his visit, the Kuwaiti foreign minister called on Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces, at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. Kuwait's Ambassador to Pakistan, Nassar Abdul Rahman J. Al-Mutairi, accompanied him.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, the meeting focused on regional security and ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Field Marshal Munir reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to Kuwait, saying both nations share a common vision for regional peace and stability.
What has Pakistan's Foreign Office said about the defense agreement?
Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the ratification reflects both countries' shared commitment to strengthening defense cooperation and elevating their strategic security partnership. He noted that defense ties between Pakistan and Kuwait date back to the early 1980s and have expanded steadily since then.
Andrabi said Pakistan and Kuwait would continue working closely to implement the agreement and expressed confidence that stronger defense ties would contribute to regional peace and stability. The visit reflects growing momentum in Pakistan-Kuwait relations as both countries look to expand cooperation into broader economic, strategic and security domains.
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