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Pakistan-Kuwait defence cooperation has entered a new phase after Islamabad and Kuwait signed the Protocol Agreement-2026, expanding an existing framework for military collaboration between the two countries. The agreement was signed during a high-level Kuwaiti delegation’s visit to Pakistan on Thursday.
New protocol expands military cooperation
The agreement was signed during a meeting between Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Kuwaiti Defence Minister Sheikh Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Saleem Al-Sabah.
The Kuwaiti delegation also included the country’s Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Khalid Darj Saad Al-Shriaan. Discussions covered bilateral defence relations, security cooperation and ways to strengthen institutional links between the armed forces of the two countries.
According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence, the Protocol Agreement-2026 significantly strengthens the military cooperation framework established through the Pakistan-Kuwait Defence Cooperation Agreement signed in 2023.
The latest arrangement provides a mechanism for expanding practical collaboration in areas of mutual interest while reinforcing the institutional relationship between the two militaries.
Training and border management at the core
Under the new agreement, Pakistan’s armed forces will extend assistance to Kuwait in several areas, including military training, capacity building and border management.
The two sides will also cooperate in other mutually agreed fields of defence collaboration. The emphasis on training and institutional capacity reflects Pakistan’s longstanding role in providing military expertise and professional training to partner countries.
The development follows Kuwait’s recent ratification of the 2023 Pakistan-Kuwait Defence Cooperation Agreement. Pakistan’s Foreign Office said in July that the agreement provides a comprehensive framework covering military training and education, joint exercises, exchanges of expertise and other mutually agreed areas.
The 2023 agreement was originally signed on June 11, 2023, and Kuwait completed its ratification process in July 2026. The framework is intended to strengthen institutional military ties rather than establish a mechanism for automatic troop deployments.
Longstanding Pakistan-Kuwait defence relationship
The latest agreement builds on decades of military relations between Pakistan and Kuwait. Pakistan’s Foreign Office has described the defence partnership as dating back to the early 1980s, with cooperation developing through successive periods of regional instability.
The relationship has included military training, professional exchanges and broader institutional engagement. Kuwait’s recent ratification of the 2023 agreement was described by Islamabad as an important milestone in elevating bilateral security cooperation.
The latest development also comes as Pakistan continues to deepen defence relationships with Gulf partners amid a rapidly changing regional security environment.
Separately, the Kuwaiti delegation met Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. According to ISPR, the meeting focused on regional security, bilateral defence cooperation and strengthening institutional ties.
Focus on regional security and stability
Both Pakistan and Kuwait reiterated their commitment to developing a durable and mutually beneficial defence partnership. Islamabad said the latest agreement reflects mutual trust, respect and shared strategic interests.
The two countries also reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen cooperation in support of mutual security and regional peace and stability.
For Pakistan, the expanded arrangement provides another avenue for defence diplomacy and military-to-military engagement in the Gulf. For Kuwait, closer cooperation with Pakistan offers access to established military training and professional expertise.
The implementation of the new protocol is therefore expected to reinforce an already longstanding defence relationship while creating additional opportunities for practical cooperation between the two armed forces.
Source attribution: Pakistan Ministry of Defence, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan Foreign Office and Radio Pakistan.See More on Pulse Pakistan
