Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, in an interview with Hum News on Wednesday, indicated more progress towards formalising a multilateral defence alliance among Muslim-majority states, the so-called Islamic NATO. He said that Qatar might become part of the grouping, which already includes Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and noted that talks with Turkey were at an advanced stage. “The arrangement that has been finalised, or has been partially finalised, or is being finalised, is in process. This is an arrangement for the future, which obviously includes the present as well,” Asif said, as per an ANI report. “And if this already existing pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, if Qatar and Turkiye also join it, then it will be welcoming that such an economic and defence arrangement among countries comes to our region here so that dependence on outside the region is minimised,” he added.
Asif’s statement indicates that the concept of an Islamic NATO, initially a speculative idea, has moved into concrete planning. This follows a series of developments over the past year, ranging from Israel’s missile strike on Qatar to the formal Saudi-Pakistan pact, and now toward a broader multilateral framework.
