Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Defence Production Raza Hayat Harraj has said that if a trilateral defense cooperation agreement among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye is proposed in the future, Pakistan would welcome it. Talking exclusively in Pakistan TV&rsquo;s programme The Newsroom, the minister said Pakistan enjoys very strong diplomatic and defense relations with both Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, describing them as close allies and reliable friends of the country.&nbsp; &ldquo;An agreement has already been concluded between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. It is a bilateral agreement. If tomorrow, Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia come up with a proposal, it will be a very welcoming statement as far as Pakistan is concerned,&rdquo; the minister said, adding that at present there is no trilateral agreement involving the three countries. The Saudi-Pakistan defense agreement was signed between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in Riyadh in September last year, which was described as a &ldquo;strategic mutual defense agreement.&rdquo;&nbsp; The agreement aims to development aspects of defense cooperation between the two countries and strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression. Harraj said Pakistan maintains close defence cooperation with Turkiye, particularly in defence industrial development, and has a similar association with Saudi Arabia. Azerbaijan is also a close partner of Pakistan in terms of defense cooperation, he added. The minister said while a trilateral framework could be a future prospect, any such arrangement would only be considered if and when a formal proposal is presented.&nbsp; &ldquo;We would be willing to deliberate once an opportunity arises,&rdquo; he said, adding that if such an agreement comes forward, it will be left for the relevant stakeholders to scrutinize it. Harraj emphasised that defense-related agreements are considered trade secrets and often involve classified information that cannot be disclosed publicly.&nbsp; Explaining the nature of defense cooperation, the minister said such collaborations can take various forms, including joint exercises, shared production of defense equipment, or joint manufacturing of components.&nbsp; He cited the JF-17 fighter jet programme as an example of successful defense collaboration between Pakistan and China. Reiterating Pakistan&rsquo;s position, Harraj said bilateral defense agreements with Turkiye and Saudi Arabia are independent of each other.

The Newsroom

Federal Minister for Defense Production Raza Hayat Harraj has said that if a trilateral defense cooperation agreement among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye is proposed in the future, Pakistan would welcome it.

Pakistan open to trilateral defense deal with Saudi Arabia, Turkiye in future: Harraj

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and T&uuml;rkiye are moving to deepen cooperation in drones, defense, and aviation after two high-level meetings this week with Turkish business and industrial delegations.&nbsp;On Thursday, a T&uuml;rkiye delegation met Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan in Islamabad to explore joint ventures, technology transfer, and local manufacturing in aerospace, drone technology, and defense systems, the Ministry of Commerce said.&nbsp;The delegation included senior professionals from T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s aviation, aerospace engineering, defense systems, automotive engineering, and advanced materials sectors.&nbsp;&ldquo;The visitors conveyed strong interest in pursuing joint ventures, technology transfer, and establishing manufacturing capabilities in Pakistan,&rdquo; the ministry said.&nbsp;Khan welcomed the delegation, noting: &ldquo;Pakistan is committed to strengthening economic and industrial ties with T&uuml;rkiye. Our longstanding goodwill provides significant potential for cooperation in aerospace, defense production, minerals development, and dual-use manufacturing.&rdquo;&nbsp;He urged Turkish companies to view Pakistan as &ldquo;a strategic production and export base for regional and global markets, including ASEAN, Africa, the Gulf, and South Asia.&rdquo;&nbsp;Khan also highlighted initiatives including the Karachi Expo Centre expansion and enhanced coordination among the commerce ministry, ministry of defense production, and national technology institutions.&nbsp;Earlier this week, a high-powered delegation of T&uuml;rkiye aerospace, defense, and industrial manufacturers visited the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) in Islamabad.&nbsp;Representing the Bursa Aerospace and Defense Cluster Association (BASDEC) and T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s Defense Industry Agency, the delegation met PEC Chairman Engr.&nbsp;Waseem Nazir, who briefed them on PEC&rsquo;s reforms, digital modernization, international accreditation, and efforts to align Pakistan&rsquo;s engineering sector with global standards.&nbsp;&ldquo;We welcome T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s rapid strides in defense and industrial innovation and remain committed to expanding international engineering linkages,&rdquo; Nazir said.&nbsp;Representatives from fourteen leading Turkish companies, including ERFA Torna, Bizpark (Ucaksan), FTS Tasarim, LEVKA, MFK, and Defense Systems, presented their capabilities and explored collaboration in R&amp;D, co-production, localized manufacturing, and technology sharing.&nbsp;PEC officials also highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s regulatory framework and opportunities in aerospace and defense engineering.&nbsp;Both sides discussed professional certification, skill development, and joint innovation programs, reaffirming &ldquo;their commitment to advancing mutually beneficial industrial cooperation,&rdquo; the PEC statement said.&nbsp;The meetings signal a major step toward deeper Pakistan-T&uuml;rkiye collaboration in drones, defense manufacturing, and aviation, laying the groundwork for long-term industrial and technological partnerships.

Economy

Foreign Affairs

Islamabad and Istanbul held high-level meetings this week to strengthen cooperation in drones, defence, and aviation, exploring joint ventures, technology transfer, and long-term industrial partnerships.

Articles tagged with "defense"

Pakistan open to trilateral defense deal with Saudi Arabia, Turkiye in future: Harraj

Pakistan, Türkiye expand drone, defense, aviation cooperation, explore joint ventures