Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Asif Says Qatar, Turkiye Could Join Saudi Defense Pact

Pakistan indicated that Turkiye and Qatar could join its mutual defense cooperation pact with Saudi Arabia as the US-Iran war reshapes security alignments across the Middle East and South Asia, with Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif saying the arrangement was being finalized.

“Egypt, Qatar urge efforts to contain regional tensions, prevent wider conflict - Asia - Anadolu Agency - Published Date: 01:08 PM 10 July 2026 The foreign ministers of Egypt and Qatar on Friday stressed the need to contain escalating regional tensions and prevent the conflict from widening, Egypt's Foreign Ministry said”

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Asif said, “If Qatar and Turkiye also join this existing agreement, it will be a welcome development,” during a local television interview on Monday night, according to Bloomberg.

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The report also said Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a strategic defense agreement in September 2025 under which “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.”

It added that last month, a Pakistani military contingent arrived at King Abdulaziz Air Base in Saudi Arabia to support joint military cooperation and regional security efforts, and that an expanded arrangement would bring together several influential Muslim-majority states with growing regional security roles, including Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.

In parallel diplomacy, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Qatar’s Amir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to discuss ongoing regional tensions and diplomatic efforts for peace, according to Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office.

Sharif conveyed Eid al-Fitr greetings during the call on Wednesday, March 25, and the Amir reciprocated, while Sharif expressed serious concern over hostilities and strongly condemned attacks targeting Qatar and other Gulf countries.

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The Kabul Tribune said Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s full solidarity and support with Qatar and urged all parties to resolve differences through dialogue and diplomacy, with the Qatari Amir welcoming Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting regional peace.

In a separate set of calls described by the Express Tribune, Shehbaz Sharif urged restraint and called for the immediate restoration of peace and stability in the region during telephone conversations with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani amid fresh hostilities between the United States and Iran.

Regional mediators including Qatar and Pakistan were described as trying to de-escalate tensions between the United States and Iran and preserve negotiations over a nuclear agreement after President Donald Trump declared on July 8 that the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU) and the ceasefire were “over” and ordered two rounds of airstrikes against Iran.

“Regional mediators seek to defuse US-Iran tensions: Report Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt hold calls with both parties Ilayda Cakirtekin 10 July 2026•Update: 10 July 2026 ISTANBUL Regional mediators are trying to ease escalating tensions between the US and Iran while calling for further negotiations on a nuclear deal, the Axios news site reported late Thursday”

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Axios reported that Qatari negotiators travelled to Iran on Friday in coordination with the U.S. to meet with Iranian officials to de-escalate the situation and create the conditions for negotiations to resume, and that meetings in Mashhad were ongoing while “it’s clear both sides want to come back to the MOU.”

A U.S. official quoted by Axios said, “still committed to finding a resolution, and technical-level talks continue” to reach a nuclear deal, while also saying Iran’s attacks on vessels were “acts of terrorism” and that “The MOU is performance-based.”

The Express Tribune framed the stakes as a 60-day window for negotiations on a permanent agreement under Pakistani mediation, saying an interim ceasefire agreement was intended to provide that window even as indirect talks in Qatar ended last week with no sign of headway.