RAWALPINDI: Pakistan and Kuwait on Thursday signed the “Protocol Agreement-2026” to further strengthen the existing military cooperation framework established under the “Defence Cooperation Agreement-2023”.
The agreement was signed during a meeting between Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Saleem Al-Sabah in Rawalpindi.
A high-level Kuwaiti delegation, led by Defence Minister Al-Sabah and accompanied by Lieutenant General Khalid Darj Saad Al-Shriaan, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Kuwait, called on Pakistan’s Defence Minister Asif at the Ministry of Defence in Rawalpindi, the Ministry of Defence said.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed matters of mutual interest, with particular focus on bilateral defence relations, security cooperation and further strengthening defence ties between Pakistan and Kuwait.
The “Protocol Agreement-2026” was signed between Pakistan and Kuwait, significantly enhancing the existing military cooperation framework established under the “Defence Cooperation Agreement-2023.”
Under the new agreement, the Armed Forces of Pakistan will extend assistance to the Armed Forces of Kuwait in diverse fields, including training, capacity building, border management and other mutually agreed areas of defence collaboration.
The agreement reflects the deep trust, mutual respect and shared strategic interests underpinning the longstanding defence relationship between the two brotherly countries, the defence ministry said in a statement.
Both sides reaffirmed their resolve to further strengthen this partnership in support of mutual security and regional peace and stability.
Pakistan, Kuwait to expand defence cooperation
Earlier, the high-level Kuwaiti delegation, led by Defence Minister Al-Sabah and accompanied by Lieutenant General Khalid Darj Saad Al-Shriaan, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Kuwait, called on Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.
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The meeting focused on matters of mutual interest, regional security and bilateral defence cooperation, ISPR said.
During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing institutional ties and expanding mutually beneficial defence collaboration between the two brotherly countries, the military’s media wing said.
The Kuwaiti delegation appreciated the professionalism, operational excellence and valuable contributions of the Pakistan Armed Forces towards regional peace and stability.
The engagement reaffirmed the resolve of Pakistan and Kuwait to further consolidate their historic and brotherly relations into a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial defence partnership, contributing to regional security and stability, ISPR said.
The latest engagement comes after on July 26 Kuwait ratified the Pakistan-Kuwait Defence Cooperation Agreement signed in June 2023.
Also Read: Kuwait Approves Defence Cooperation Pact with Pakistan
Pakistan-Kuwait Defence Cooperation Agreement
Pakistan welcomed the ratification, describing it as a significant step towards strengthening bilateral defence cooperation and elevating the security partnership between the two countries.
The agreement paved the way for expanded collaboration between Pakistan and Kuwait in military training, intelligence sharing, defence technology, logistics and broader armed forces cooperation.
The pact establishes a comprehensive framework to strengthen defence relations and promote cooperation in military training, education and other security-related fields in accordance with the domestic laws of both countries and their respective international obligations.
Under the agreement, Pakistan and Kuwait will expand cooperation across a wide range of areas, including military training and education, logistical support, the exchange of military personnel, technical experts and specialists, scientific and technological collaboration, military intelligence, and other mutually agreed fields of defence cooperation.
While welcoming Kuwait’s ratification of the Pakistan-Kuwait Defence Cooperation Agreement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, in a statement, said the agreement reflects the shared resolve of both sides to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and elevate their security partnership.
Also Read: Pakistan Welcomes Kuwait’s Ratification of Defence Cooperation Agreement
Andrabi said that the Agreement provides a comprehensive institutional framework for expanding defence cooperation, encompassing military training and education, joint exercises, exchanges of expertise, and other mutually agreed areas of collaboration.
“Pakistan and Kuwait will continue to work closely to implement the Agreement in accordance with its provisions, thereby expanding bilateral defence collaboration, strengthening their enduring defence partnership underpinned by mutual trust, shared interests, and close institutional cooperation, and contributing to regional peace, security and stability,” the Foreign Office spokesperson said.
Pakistan and Kuwait have also stepped up high-level engagement in recent months. During the visit of Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to Islamabad in July, the two sides agreed to deepen cooperation across several sectors and maintain sustained high-level engagement.
