'Shouldn't be exclusive club': Pak minister seeks Nato-like Islamic military alliance
Pakistan's defense minister has proposed that Islamic nations form a military alliance modeled after NATO to foster collective security. This follows a recent defense pact signed between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey amid rising regional tensions.
Why it matters
The proposal signals a potential shift in regional power dynamics and a move toward formalizing military cooperation among Muslim-majority nations in response to regional conflicts.
A day after Pakistan signed a defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday called for Islamic countries to set aside their differences and form a military alliance along the lines of Nato.In an interview with Geo News, Asif said the agreement signed in Mecca should not remain an "exclusive club" and should be expanded to include other Islamic countries."See, we can't close the doors for other countries. This shouldn't be an exclusive club. This is my personal opinion. It should expand," Asif said."I think Muslim countries should keep their differences, transactional or bilateral disputes aside, on the lines of Nato and stand together," he added.Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey signed the defence pact in Mecca on Friday, marking a significant strategic development in the region.
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