Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday, providing a detailed briefing on the government’s progress toward a strategic trilateral defence pact involving Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.
The meeting focused on shifting Pakistan’s military procurement and industrial cooperation away from traditional reliance on single-source suppliers. By aligning with Riyadh and Ankara, Islamabad aims to tap into Turkiye’s advanced drone technology and Saudi Arabia’s expanding capital base for local defence manufacturing.
The proposed agreement isn’t just about weapon sales. It marks a broader push for joint production lines, aiming to reduce the massive foreign exchange outflow that has historically strained Pakistan’s defence budget.
“We are looking at a framework that moves beyond a buyer-seller relationship,” a senior official familiar with the discussions said. “The goal is technology transfer and shared operational capabilities.”
President Zardari, according to sources within the presidency, emphasized the need for parliamentary oversight to ensure the deal aligns with long-term national security interests. He signaled support for the initiative, provided it strengthens the domestic defence industrial base rather than merely increasing debt.
The timing of this briefing is critical. Pakistan’s fiscal space remains squeezed by IMF-mandated austerity, making the prospect of co-production with wealthy regional partners an attractive alternative to outright purchasing of expensive hardware.
While details on the specific hardware or financial commitments remain under wraps, the trilateral nature of the pact suggests a pivot toward a regional security bloc. If finalized, the deal could redefine Islamabad’s role in Middle Eastern and Central Asian security dynamics, effectively anchoring Pakistan to the industrial military complexes of its two most significant Islamic allies.
The Prime Minister is expected to present a formal roadmap to the Cabinet Committee on National Security later this week to iron out the remaining technical hurdles.
