Pakistani Ambassador to Al-Qabas: Defense agreement with Kuwait strengthens a 40-year military partnership
Maysa Al-Sukari: Pakistani Ambassador to Kuwait, Dr. Zafar Iqbal, confirmed that the issuance of the decree approving the Defense Cooperation Agreement between Kuwait and Pakistan completes the constitutional and internal legal procedures in Kuwait related to the agreement signed between the two countries on June 11, 2023.
In a statement to Al-Qabas, Iqbal stressed that this step is not linked to any specific regional development, but rather comes within the framework of completing the legal process for the agreement.
Regarding the practical military gains Kuwait will acquire, and whether the agreement includes advanced cooperation in areas such as air defense, drones, and electronic warfare, or if it is primarily limited to traditional military training, Iqbal clarified that “Pakistan and Kuwait have been bound by close defense cooperation relations since the early 1980s.” He noted that this cooperation has, over the past decades, covered areas such as military training, professional exchanges, and capacity building. The agreement provides a modern institutional framework that regulates this cooperation and enhances its continuity, reflecting a strong and sustainable partnership spanning more than four decades. He reiterated that the agreement strengthens the military partnership between the two countries, which has lasted for 40 years.
He explained that the areas of cooperation falling under the umbrella of the agreement will be determined through mutual consultations between the competent authorities in both countries, according to what is jointly agreed upon, without the agreement pre-defining specific programs or implementation areas.
On the role of the Joint Military Commission stipulated in the agreement, the Pakistani Ambassador explained that it represents a bilateral institutional mechanism aimed at facilitating coordination and monitoring the implementation of cooperation areas between the two countries. He stated that its activities, meetings, and agenda will be jointly determined by the competent authorities in Kuwait and Pakistan, in line with the priorities agreed upon by both sides.
Responding to a question about the possibility of expanding defense cooperation amid security challenges and tensions experienced in the Gulf region over recent months, Iqbal affirmed that Pakistan and Kuwait share a common interest in enhancing security, peace, and regional stability. He pointed out that defense cooperation between the two countries has always been based on mutual respect, shared benefits, and the enhancement of professional cooperation and capacity building. He added that any future areas of cooperation will be developed through existing bilateral mechanisms and based on a joint agreement between the two governments, in accordance with the interests and priorities of both countries.
Regarding the possibility that the agreement could pave the way for military technology transfer or joint defense manufacturing, given Pakistan’s advanced expertise in defense industries, missile technologies, and drone systems, Iqbal clarified that the agreement sets a general framework for bilateral cooperation. Any specific initiatives or projects will be jointly studied by the competent authorities in both countries, according to each side’s priorities and national procedures.
Emphasizing a strong and sustainable partnership, the Pakistani Ambassador stated that defense relations between Kuwait and Pakistan are based on a strong and sustainable partnership spanning more than four decades. He noted that the new agreement enhances this relationship by providing a modern institutional framework for the continuity of cooperation. He also renewed his country’s commitment to continuing to strengthen friendly relations with Kuwait in various fields of mutual interest, including defense cooperation, in accordance with joint decisions of the two governments, and in a manner that contributes to supporting peace, security, and stability in the region.
