DOHA/ISLAMABAD (MNN); Pakistan, Qatar, Türkiye and Indonesia have signed a multilateral defence cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening defence production, expanding industrial collaboration and enhancing their respective military capabilities, Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defence announced on Wednesday.
The agreement, titled the Badr Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), was signed in Qatar in the presence of defence ministers and senior officials from the four countries. Pakistan was represented by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
Although Pakistan’s Foreign Office had not issued a separate statement on the agreement, Asif shared key remarks on the Badr MoU through a post on X, reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to strengthening defence cooperation with trusted partners.
“Pakistan places great importance on strengthening defence cooperation with trusted partners,” the minister said, adding that the memorandum reflected a shared commitment to regional peace and stability.
He said the agreement would help the participating countries explore opportunities for greater self-reliance, industrial collaboration, joint production and technology transfer, drawing on the complementary strengths of their defence industries and in accordance with applicable domestic and international laws.
The partnership is also intended to promote joint research and development, training exchanges and the development of industrial capabilities.
According to Türkiye’s defence ministry, the agreement seeks to deepen cooperation in military production, strengthen defence capabilities and facilitate collaboration in technical military training, research and development. It also carries significant economic potential, the ministry said.
The other signatories included Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman, and Indonesia’s Deputy Defence Minister Yusuf Jauhari. Haluk Görgün, head of Türkiye’s Secretariat of Defence Industries, also attended the ceremony.
Görgün described the agreement as a foundation for strategic cooperation in joint production and technological development, emphasising the importance of technology sharing, collaborative development and stronger domestic manufacturing capabilities.
He said Türkiye favoured partnerships that went beyond the purchase of ready-made military equipment and instead helped develop local expertise, human resources and industrial infrastructure.
Görgün expressed confidence that the Badr MoU would translate the complementary strengths of Qatar, Pakistan, Indonesia and Türkiye into practical joint projects.
Qatar News Agency reported that the pact was named “Badr,” referring to the full moon and symbolising how the four countries could complement one another through defence and economic cooperation. The agency added that other friendly countries could join the arrangement under criteria to be agreed upon by the four signatories.
The agreement comes amid growing diplomatic and security engagement among the participating countries.
Pakistan and Türkiye, alongside Saudi Arabia, are members of the Makkah Defence Alliance, under which an attack on one member is to be treated as an attack on all. Qatar has welcomed that arrangement as an initiative aimed at promoting regional security and stability.
Pakistan and Qatar have also remained engaged in mediation efforts related to the US-Iran conflict, while Pakistan and Türkiye participate in the Regional Four (R4) grouping alongside Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
In a separate development earlier this week, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met his Qatari counterpart in Doha, with both sides agreeing to enhance cooperation in internal security.
During his visit to Qatar in November 2025, President Asif Ali Zardari also discussed expanding bilateral cooperation in defence production with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Pakistan’s defence engagement with Indonesia has also gained momentum. Last month, Indonesian Navy Chief Admiral Dr Muhammad Ali met Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir in Rawalpindi. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening professional training, defence cooperation and joint exercises.
In January, Indonesia’s Defence Minister, retired Lieutenant General Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, also met Field Marshal Munir and expressed Jakarta’s interest in further expanding defence ties with Pakistan.
