Kuwait has formally incorporated its defense cooperation agreement with Pakistan, originally signed on June 11, 2023, into national law through a royal decree, three years after the pact was concluded.
The move is expected to further strengthen defense and military cooperation between the two countries.
According to BBC Urdu, the royal decree establishes a comprehensive framework for cooperation between the armed forces of Pakistan and Kuwait.
The agreement covers a wide range of areas, including military training, defense education, intelligence sharing, logistics, defense technology, research, and the exchange of expertise.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Zafar Iqbal, told the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida that the agreement was signed in June 2023 and has now received formal approval through the royal decree. He said the pact is defensive in nature and aims to promote professional cooperation, capacity building, and joint efforts to support regional peace and stability.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Kuwait’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, is scheduled to pay an official visit to Islamabad on July 28 and 29, where both sides are expected to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation across various sectors.
Key Provisions of the Defense Agreement
The agreement, signed on June 11, 2023, contains 12 articles aimed at expanding cooperation in the following areas:
Military training and defense education
Logistics and military support
Defense technology and research
Military intelligence cooperation
Exchange of personnel, experts, and professional experience
Establishment of a Joint Military Committee and annual meetings
Protection of classified and sensitive information
Financial and administrative cooperation
Procedures for amending the agreement through mutual consent
The agreement also states that none of its provisions will affect either country’s existing international obligations. It further specifies that any disputes arising from the agreement will be resolved through mutual consultation and understanding, rather than being referred to an international court or a third party.
The agreement was signed in 2023 by Pakistan’s then-Ambassador to Kuwait, Malik Muhammad Farooq, and Brigadier General Fawaz Khudair Mohammed Al-Harbi, Director of Joint Planning at Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense.
The issuance of the royal decree formally paves the way for the agreement’s implementation and is regarded as a significant step toward deepening defense ties between Pakistan and Kuwait.
