5 days ago
Pakistan-Kuwait Defence Deal Expands Gulf Footprint, Raises Indian Questions
Pakistan and Kuwait have agreed to work more closely on defence and military matters.
Pakistan will help Kuwait train soldiers and improve border management.
The countries also plan to share information, visit each other’s forces and hold exercises together.
The agreement will last five years and can renew automatically.
This deal adds to Pakistan’s growing military relationships in the Gulf.
Kuwait wants stronger defence links while facing regional tensions involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
India has important trade and people-to-people ties with Gulf countries.
Indian officials and defence planners will therefore watch whether Pakistan gains too much influence in the region.
Analysts quoted in the article say the deal does not create an immediate military threat to India.
Pakistan and Kuwait signed the Protocol Agreement-2026 on Thursday, August 27, to expand military cooperation.
The five-year agreement covers training, intelligence sharing, logistics, defence technology, research and joint exercises.
Pakistan will assist Kuwait with troop training, border management and other defence-related activities.
The pact strengthens Pakistan’s growing defence relationships in the Gulf, following agreements involving Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
The deal is not considered an immediate threat to India, but New Delhi is monitoring its possible effects on maritime routes and the Indian diaspora.
- Who
- Pakistan and Kuwait, represented by Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Kuwaiti Defence Minister Sheikh Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.
- What
- They signed the Protocol Agreement-2026 to expand military cooperation, including training, intelligence sharing, defence technology and joint exercises.
- Where
- Islamabad, Pakistan.
- When
- Thursday, August 27; the agreement is valid for five years with automatic renewal clauses.
- Why
- The countries say the pact serves their shared interests and regional security, while Kuwait seeks stronger military links amid regional tensions.
Reasons for Caution
Reasons for Reassurance
Pakistan’s regional influence
Reasons for Caution
Pakistan’s expanding defence links with Kuwait and other Gulf states could increase Islamabad’s influence over regional security decisions.
Reasons for Reassurance
The Kuwait agreement broadens bilateral cooperation but does not include a provision treating an attack on one country as an attack on both.
Maritime security
Reasons for Caution
India may need to ensure Pakistan cannot use its growing Gulf relationships to influence maritime routes important to Indian trade.
Reasons for Reassurance
Defence analysts cited in the article believe India’s extensive trade ties with Gulf countries will limit Pakistan’s leverage.
Indian citizens in the Gulf
Reasons for Caution
New Delhi must monitor whether Pakistan’s larger military footprint could affect the safety of the Indian diaspora.
Reasons for Reassurance
The article identifies no immediate threat to Indian citizens or India from the pact itself.
Key facts
- Agreement
- Protocol Agreement-2026 between Pakistan and Kuwait
- Validity
- Five years, with automatic renewal unless either country withdraws
- Pakistan’s assistance
- Troop training, border management and other defence cooperation
- Areas of cooperation
- Military education, intelligence, logistics, defence technology, research and electronic communications
- Additional activities
- Joint exercises, bilateral visits and military exchanges
- India-Gulf ties
- India has a stated $100 billion bilateral trade footprint in the Gulf region
- Indian community
- More than one million Indian citizens live and work in Kuwait, according to the article
Quotes
Abdulsalam Saleh
Analyst who provides commentary on West Asia
“This agreement is not just another military story — it is a natural extension of the Makkah Agreement. The message is clear: the Gulf is no longer an open arena, and regional security is being written by sovereign hands. Those who read the scene understand the axis is expanding quietly, and every capital that joins adds a new wall against chaos.”
firstpost.com
“Saudi first, now Kuwait. Pakistan’s defence footprint in the Gulf keeps growing.”
firstpost.com
Sources
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