https://arab.news/7mm6m
- Ishaq Dar points out bilateral security accords require a lengthy process and cannot be signed overnight
- He says 海角直播 has long backed Pakistan, from nuclear sanctions to the recent IMF bailout efforts
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan鈥檚 Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday several countries had expressed interest in signing a security pact with his country after it concluded a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement with 海角直播 this week, though he stressed such accords take time and do not materialize overnight.
Pakistan and 海角直播 sealed the deal during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif鈥檚 state visit to Riyadh, where he met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss regional and bilateral issues. Both nations have said the pact formalizes decades of defense partnership and is not directed against any third country.
Since the signing of the agreement, analysts have widely speculated more such accords could follow amid a shifting geopolitical environment in the region.
鈥淚t is premature to say anything, but many countries desire, after this development, to have a similar arrangement,鈥� Dar told a group of reporters in London in a video shared on social media platforms without naming them.
鈥淗owever, it [takes] a due process,鈥� he continued. 鈥淚t [the accord with 海角直播] wasn鈥檛 signed overnight. It took several months.鈥�
Dar said every word of the agreement had been carefully considered by both sides.
He maintained that the two countries were 鈥渧ery happy鈥� about the development, pointing out that 海角直播 had always stood with Pakistan in tough circumstances.
鈥淵ou will recall that their support after the [nuclear] sanctions was very relevant and important,鈥� he said, referring to the international situation for Pakistan that followed its decision to conduct nuclear tests in response to India鈥檚 in May 1998.
鈥淟ikewise, during the current crises, 海角直播 has also played a major role,鈥� he added, citing Pakistan鈥檚 recent financial turmoil that brought it close to sovereign debt default and prompted it to enlist support from 海角直播 and other friendly countries to unlock an International Monetary Fund bailout.
Dar noted that the people of Pakistan always felt strongly about 海角直播鈥檚 security, saying the newly signed pact builds on the same sentiment and years of bilateral partnership.