ISLAMABAD, OCT 3 – Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has said that following Pakistan’s defense agreement with Saudi Arabia, several Islamic countries have expressed interest in signing similar agreements with Islamabad.
“If a large number of Muslim nations join, it could lead to the creation of a new NATO-like alliance,” he remarked.
Addressing a session of the National Assembly on Friday, Dar clarified that the defense pact with Saudi Arabia was not a sudden development but the result of long-running discussions. “Allah Almighty has blessed us with the honour of being among the guardians of the Two Holy Mosques, and this is our good fortune,” he said.
The deputy prime minister added that both Arab and non-Arab Muslim countries have shown interest in pursuing defense agreements with Pakistan. “If many of these countries come together, it will effectively become a new NATO,” he remarked.
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Dar emphasized Pakistan’s strength as a nuclear and missile power but stressed the need to transform the country into an economic power as well. “One day, Pakistan will lead all Islamic countries,” he declared.
During the same session, Dar said the 20 points that US President Donald Trump announced as part of his Gaza plan this week was not in line with the draft proposed by a group of Muslim-majority countries.
He added that changes were made in the plan.
He also emphasized unity between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), expressed gratitude for the PPP’s return to the assembly, and shed light on Pakistan’s diplomatic engagements, including the Palestine crisis, Kashmir dispute, and negotiations with world powers.
