Pakistan pushes Islamic NATO as Saudi Qatar and Turkey near a defence pact to reshape Gulf security

Pakistan says Qatar and Turkey joining makes it “welcoming”

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif says an “Islamic NATO” is moving from speculation to planning, with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan already in, and Qatar potentially joining as talks with Turkey advance. The proposed alliance is framed as reducing reliance on outside powers while creating a coordinated deterrent across the Gulf and beyond. The concept draws from a prior Saudi–Pakistan pact signed last year that mirrors NATO’s Article 5 collective response, potentially adding Turkey’s military depth and Qatar’s strategic logistics.